What can you do when a problem feels like it’s out of your control?
The answer is to minimize the harm caused by the problem while seeking a solution to its cause.
This line of thinking is often what leads people like Sean into public service, like 2009 Baldwin High School alumnus Sean Sluganski. He became a McKeesport police officer, a job that enabled him to help serve and protect his community, one problem at a time.
On February 6th, Officer Sluganski died in the line of duty while engaging with an individual who was suffering from poor mental health. His sacrifice in the name of public safety cannot and should not be the end of his story. Rather, it must serve as a wake-up call for each of us to take whatever actions we can to improve the state of mental health in the U.S.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), over 20% of Americans are experiencing a mental illness. That’s over 52 million people. That’s 1 out of every 5 people you know.
America’s poor mental health is more than an epidemic. It’s a national crisis.
What can we do?
What can you do?
I can’t speak for everyone, but here’s how I personally feel: I believe that those who are struggling with mental health issues desperately need the rest of us to help them in any way we can, because they are often unable to help themselves. This means first acknowledging them as worthy people who need and deserve our help. It also means advocating for increased access to mental health services at the local, state, and federal level. And it means taking steps to provide more funding, more resources, more training, more transportation, more caregiver support, and more compassion for those in need.
Do you know someone with mental health issues? If so, what can you do to ensure they’re getting the care they need, and that they aren’t just suffering in silence?
Are you experiencing a mental health issue yourself? Who can you reach out to for advice, stability, and support?
Sean Sluganski woke up on February 6th wanting to make the world a better place. We owe it to him to continue that work, and to ensure that others who have dedicated their lives to protecting our community won’t need to experience the same sudden end to a story that was only beginning.