More Safety

An icy morning in Victoria!

Gun control? Improved parenting? Increased mental illness services?

OK, which is it? Any or all? Where do we start?

I’ve been struggling with this blog post today. I actually wrote it this morning in my journal and had started to copy it out but decided that bit of writing needed to stay in my journal. In essence, in the last many months and specifically in the last week, I have read articles, listened to radio discussions and heard opinions. Many opinions based on personal experience, and I have had some of my own related to gun control, improved parenting and increased mental illness services. Some opinions are just that - opinions - and some very biased ones at that. 

So I decided to go into some depth regarding the troublesome three issues. First of all, guns are things. Dangerous items that need some form of control beginning in the home. I would not presume to tell anyone what that control should be except to say it should promote safety, whether that gun is used for hunting or for any other reason. And yes, I don’t have a problem with hunting for meat.

Secondly, parenting. None of us has come into this world and presented our parents with a handbook on parenting. Even if we did, it could not cover all the trials and tribulations, joys and achievements of the various family members, including the illnesses that are not shared equally in this world. Parents learn from their parents how to raise a healthy, happy child. Of course the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ is also true. Children learn from their extended family, from their teachers and from community members and need to sort it out on their own in many cases. Then there are those children who have no parental guidance or mentors, or who have ‘aged out’ from the world of foster homes.

Many children thrive and survive their growing up years in homes blessed with solid parenting, a healthy community and economic stability.

Finally, increased mental health services. For any illness, the appropriate health services are required to allow an individual to find health and relief in their life. In mental illness, conditions not necessarily symptomatic every second of every day, thought patterns, learning abilities, decision making, impulse control are all under assault. Each and every one of these individuals was someone’s child. Parents had to learn what to do, how to be a parent, without a handbook for these children. Mental illness can also occur, briefly or chronically at or during adolescence, in young adulthood, with the birth of a child, or at any other age or stage. Each area requires it's own care, compassion and treatment. As families, communities, and nations, we also need to talk about mental illness situations without rancour or criticism, but with the same care and compassion that we demand of our services.

So it comes down to my own opinion. Sorting out only one of these issues is not enough. Each one must be addressed in conjunction with keeping us all safe. Safe from within and safe from without. Gun ownership is a privilege, requires control and sense of does not choose a responsibility. Parenting is privilege, requiring respect and a sense of responsibility. Mental illness is not a privilege and not a choice, and it definitely requires more attention. Mental illness does not care whether one is nine or ninety. Mental illness requires more understanding, compassion and the services necessary to support a healthy life. It takes more than medication, more than a few group sessions, or scattered health services appointments for life to be safe.

“The desire for safety stands agains every great and noble enterprise.”

~ Tacitus