Mental health is a national priority
The massacre at Newtown, whose victims included three children with autism and special needs and two heroic and dedicated special education teachers, was yet another wakeup call to a society that still refuses to confront in any meaningful way the gross deficiencies in our mental health system.
In addressing the nation the other day, President Obama cited the need for a multi-faceted approach in developing a plan to reduce gun violence. Importantly, the president also referenced the inaccessibility of mental health care in America. If past experience is any guide, we can expect meaningful conversation about reforming our mental health system to be drowned out in the coming days and weeks by the gun control debate, the fiscal cliff negotiations and whatever events the next news cycle may bring.