This is one of the pitfalls from the country closing down all the state run, long term mental hospitals. Back in the 60s or early 70's they just opened the doors and closed all those facilities and the patients became some of the countries largest group of homeless people. There was no where for them to go. Families didnt want these patients that had been in govt run facilities for years and years suddenly showing up at their doors. Most got maybe a months worth of medication and a card with the name of some outpatient facility on it.
That certainly worked out well.
It used to be that you could get that sick uncle or different aunt or brother into a home. Now, you are lucky if you get a 24 hour hold for danger to self or others and drugged out of their mind, walking naked down the interstate doesnt count. It used to.
Sad.
I look at the situation and see someone who could just as easily have latched onto religion, activism, or the girl down the street as his outlet/target. Influences abound, from home to school to news to internet, if it hadn't been one thing it would have been another. It hit big news because it was a politician and a high body count, but smaller versions of this both with and without guns, happens frequently and don't get a second glance from most media outlets.
Those poor parents...
On this site, there is collective wisdom and mutual support that makes it easier to know what kind of help to get for your child. Not everyone knows to reach out, or where to reach out. We have to be careful to not judge other people by our standards, when their life experiences may have been very different.
Marg
The parks and downtown are littered with homeless and mentally ill- nowhere for them go. This is not a huge town. It is sad because this is not a new story in the US.