EDITOR:
Every year, some 15 people die on P.E.I. due to suicide. That is 15 too many. Not enough funding is going into our mental health system. The government is choosing to ignore mental health because of how complicated it is and how there is no real medical cure to diseases like depression and anxiety disorder.
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However, I believe that we need more services in mental health because people who live with these disorders can’t function on a day to day basis. I don’t know if you’ve been watching the news lately Premier MacLauchlan, but over in the States there’s been a major increase in violence which includes school shootings and terrorist attacks. If someone does something like this, there has to be something more to it.
A normal healthy person doesn’t just walk into a school and start shooting. Most of the time the person has a history with mental illness. Now that people have easier access to firearms, it won’t be long before something like this happens here. Just a month ago a Three Oaks Senior High student threatened to shoot up the school. This person probably has a history with mental problems causing him to do this.
More mental health services could help people with these illnesses. They can be diagnosed with these illnesses early and have the support and probably live a great life. Something needs to be done now.
Dawson Campbell,
Souris Regional School
