Mental Health America Mourns Victims of Marysville School Shooting

Statement by Paul Gionfriddo, President and CEO

News provided by

Oct 24, 2014, 05:22 ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Mental Health America joins America in mourning the loss of those killed in the tragic shooting in Marysville, Washington. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and hope for the full recovery of those who were injured and everyone who is affected by this horrific event.

"At this point, we do not know the motivation behind this tragic and senseless act. But we do know that events like this will impact families, the community and the nation.

"For years policymakers and others have been arguing about what to do in the aftermath of horrifying tragedies like this one. By then, it is too late—we always seem to learn later that the signs of distress were present, and often neglected, for years.

"It is time to break this chain of neglect, which often forces us to wait until some mental illnesses reach Stage 4 before we think about doing something. It is time for policy leaders to turn their attention to earlier identification and interventions. It is time our country invests in the overall physical and mental well-being of all our children—every day. It is past time that we begin to act before crises occurs, to prevent them and the horrible sadness, dismay, and distress they invariably leave in their wake.

"Unfortunately tragedies like these happen far too often in our country. We desperately need to address mental health and work to remove the stigma of mental illness. Like other diseases, we can and should address symptoms early and plan an appropriate course of action on a path towards overall health. We need to act before Stage 4."

Mental Health America is the nation's leading community-based network dedicated to helping all Americans achieve wellness by living mentally healthier lives. Our work is driven by our commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all, early identification and intervention for those at risk, integrated care and treatment for those who need it, with recovery as the goal.

For guidelines to help parents and caregivers cope with disaster and trauma, visit http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/disaster-and-trauma-resources.

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SOURCE Mental Health America