Oregon Tragedy Is Being Politicized to Perpetuate Myth That Mental Illness Causes Mass Shootings

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Advocates have planned a Day of Action on October 7 to educate federal lawmakers about why they should not support the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (HR 2646), a controversial bill that is being re-evaluated in light of the recent tragedy in Oregon.

"Rep. Tim Murphy is using the tragedy at Umpqua Community College to promote passage of his bill," said Michael Brody, President and CEO of the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, citing Murphy's CNN appearance on October 2. "But, if passed, the bill would return the nation's state mental health systems to many of the failed policies of the past."

"MHASP is joining the Day of Action, organized by the Campaign for Real Mental Health Change. They encourage everyone to contact their member of Congress on October 7 and tell them why the Murphy Bill is bad for America."

For talking points, visit the Campaign's website.

Brody said MHASP – the majority of whose 250 employees have psychiatric diagnoses or are family members of individuals with such diagnoses – mourns for the lives lost in Roseburg, Oregon.  "At the same time, we must emphasize that these tragedies have infinitely more to do with Americans' easy access to guns than they do with mental health conditions," he said.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, there were almost 120,000 gun-related killings between 2001 and 2010, and few were by individuals with mental health conditions.

"The vast majority of individuals with mental health challenges are no more likely to be violent than anyone else," said Brody. "Instead, they are more than 11 times more likely to be the victims of violence."

"To prevent such senseless tragedies we need gun control, not misconceived legislation such as HR 2646," Brody concluded. He quoted from a Connecticut report after the Newtown tragedy: "Those countries that have tight gun controls in general experience less overall gun violence and have fewer episodes per capita of mass shootings."

Since 1951, the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania (MHASP) has been a leader in innovating new mental health service approaches, reducing discrimination, restoring hope and self-esteem, and creating the circumstances for individuals to improve their lives.

CONTACT: Susan Rogers, [email protected], 267-507-3812

SOURCE Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Related Links

http://www.mhasp.org/