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CW mental health, death, racism, bigotry, #GeorgeNkencho
Irish people are at the stage of marching on the Dáil for ‘mental health’ when it’s about fucking leg day in the gyms, or if it’s a “more manageable” condition like depression/anxiety
Can’t have it both ways, gang
Irish people are at the stage of marching on the Dáil for ‘mental health’ when it’s about fucking leg day in the gyms, or if it’s a “more manageable” condition like depression/anxiety
Can’t have it both ways, gang
People with mental health problems are more likely to be the victims of a violent crime than they are to be a perpetrator. And even in that minority of cases, the “solution” isn’t harsher policing or incarceration, it’s to better fund our public & mental health services
The events that occurred earlier today in Dublin are tragic, and I could understand that it might have been alarming for the Gardai - but they shouldn’t have been in that situation. He shouldn’t have gotten the care he needed, they should have gotten the proper training needed to
...deescalate. But no matter how scary that was for them, there was fifteen of them. They should have, and could have, done much more.
And now someone is dead.
It doesn’t make it good, or better, but how we react as a society now matters
And now someone is dead.
It doesn’t make it good, or better, but how we react as a society now matters
The Gardai involved should be investigated & charged, a review should be carried out as to the Gardai’s efficacy in these situations, the govt have to actually fund mental health services instead of relying on chats and going for a jog...
And there needs to be a sea change in how we, as a people, respond to people in distress, because calling the Guards clearly should be the last thing we do
I’ve been in situations where loved ones have suffered manic episodes* in public, and in private, and it was terrifying. I understand that, I understand the feeling of not knowing what to do...
*not saying this is the case here
*not saying this is the case here
I myself, in addition to having anxiety & depression, suffer from severe brain fog and other conditions associated with repeated head trauma. That can manifest in confusion and (sometimes) in anger. I would never want someone to call the guards to help me...
...but crucially, saying that, I know it’s unlikely I, or my loved ones, would ever be shot.
Because I’m white.
Don’t lose track of that here, on the mental health side of the discussion, that police (yes, even in Ireland) are racially biased against black people
Because I’m white.
Don’t lose track of that here, on the mental health side of the discussion, that police (yes, even in Ireland) are racially biased against black people
(Note: I didn’t want to speak too much on the racial aspect of this specific case, or in general, because that’s just way out of my lane - not because it’s not an issue. I’ll try to find/link a thread on that shortly)
TL;DR
Don’t call the Guards if someone is having a breakdown, if someone is exhibiting symptoms of a breakdown or manic episode, and ESPECIALLY don’t do it if the person/people involved are from a minority community - mainly people of colour
Don’t call the Guards if someone is having a breakdown, if someone is exhibiting symptoms of a breakdown or manic episode, and ESPECIALLY don’t do it if the person/people involved are from a minority community - mainly people of colour
