I’ve seen a swing an extremely wide range of treatment philosophies over the last thirty years that really runs the gamut. From nearly instant chemical treatment to extreme avoidance of medicines and complete reliance on counseling. Reality is in most cases a combination of both are the answer.
I don’t disagree that the psychological care of forty or fifty years ago is antiquated and does not need to return, but to your point we shouldn’t have to be talking about a violent crime before someone is placed in treatment. It’s a really slippery slope, because there are frequent misdiagnosed patients and people would be ‘treated’ or institutionalized for something they didn’t have or had but weren’t really an issue to society, their families, etc. We’re blending a conversation regarding peoples civil rights and ‘follow the science’ arguments that just don’t always pan out. Forty years ago when I was in college, we were taught about conditions that were considered treatable mental illnesses that now have their own celebrated labels and celebratory months.
I don’t think we’ll ever see a return to forced institutionalization for non violent patients, so like you, I don’t have the answer other than to say it starts in our homes. If we’re going to refuse to address an issue with a loved one, who will address it? If we simply can’t because of how that individual reacts to the conversation, you have to escalate. There are systems in place to address this, but most don’t want to admit their own son, daughter, husband, wife, etc. could do things like this. Schools avoid the issue in most cases and simply work around it or the child, further isolating and alienating the child and putting it back on the family, which is honestly where it belongs. It’s a tough spot to be in, but sometimes you have to be willing to say ‘I can’t fix this’ and get help.
