Marlin Way killing opens up mental health debate

THE EDITOR, Madam:

As I read the story of the killing of a woman by her son and the wounding of his sister, I recalled my own brother’s ordeal, who suffered from mental illness.

It brings back to deep focus in my mind the need for the Government not only to talk about taking mental illness seriously but to take the necessary steps to ensure the protection of these citizens and those they may harm.

Having watched my brother suffer from mental illness for over 20 years I will admit that I have seen vast improvements over the years in the delivery of service provided to mentally ill people however much more needs to be done. I think of Damion Crawford when he talks about addressing the issue of chronic gambling and the need for family member or relative to be able to intervene on behalf of the addict.

This has to be one of the most important adaptations taken when it comes to dealing with the mentally ill. Indeed before my brother was killed he was being violent and went as far as tampering with cameras I installed at my mother’s house while telling others that he had intent on killing her. As such though I grieve the loss of my brother, but there was an enormous relief that he was not able to harm my mother. I live overseas, and was trying to get the relevant authorities to have him treated. But that didn’t happen, he lost his life.

Life is the greatest gift that one has and sometimes in order to preserve that gift even freedom must be sacrificed. It is time that the government adapts a comprehensive policy on dealing with the mentally ill among us that involves taking serious actions to treat and assess the unfortunate ones among us that succumb to the pressures of life. It is time that an institution be properly retrofitted to accommodate rehabilitation and treatment of the mentally ill.

CONCERNED CITIZEN