9 Comments

Some good streams of consciousness here, Stephen- I do wonder sometimes about people I see on the streets. We have a saying in our neck of the woods that some people are also just 'philosophically' on-the-streets, those who've chosen to do so at will. Very interesting-

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Thank you, Thalia. I've never heard that phrase.

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Hospitals, or you might call them Institutions or prisons for those dealing with mental health issues were closed back in the '90's, maybe even before that. People were released and there was no place set up for them to go to. Many of these people became homeless. There was no transitioning to public services and mental health care. There has always been a lack of housing. Getting good mental health care is very difficult. This is true for any individual seeking care. The system is broken. The system itself is unhealthy. It takes years to find the right combination of medications to bring stability to someone, like me, with a Bipolar 1 diagnosis. It takes a long time to find a therapist you can work with. The people are on the street being crazy because the system that's supposed to help them is even crazier than they are. As life gets tougher on everyone more people reach a point of disability. There's no where else for them to go. Maybe the situation will become so bad that citizens will stand up and say "These people need help!"

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"The people are on the street being crazy because the system that's supposed to help them is even crazier than they are. " You are so right. I think government shy from mental health care because it's so difficult and time consuming. But that's not a valid excuse.

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It’s more than shying away from responsibility or money. Mental health disorders are stigmatized. They are supposed to remain invisible and aren’t dealt with effectively in our culture. There is so much negative bias against mental illness.

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Oh yes, this is true. I've seen it first hand. People are frightened by what they can't quantify.

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You’re a dyspeptic old fart Stephen. I wouldn’t want it any other way. Keep it up.

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I've never before been called that. I assume it is just ageism from a youngster -- you are only 60, or something, right?

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62. Dyspeptic old fartism is an attitude, not a chronological condition. I've suffered from it—sporadically—since I was about 11 years old.

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