Due to the increase in school shootings in the United States, there is an ongoing debate about solutions. One of the most sought-after causes behind mass shootings is the mental state of the shooters themselves. Most mass shooters have a few things in common with each other.

1. Growing up in a home without a father
2. Was Taking Prescription Psychotropic Medications
3. They had stressful events in their lives

For category #1, the solutions are obvious. We need to revamp family law courts so that there are no “winner” parents and “loser” parents. I discuss this topic in depth in my published report submitted to the UN entitled “Global Human Trafficking in The Family Law Courts”, which can be found on Amazon.

However, for the sake of this article, I want to focus on the mental health aspect. It is undeniable that our school systems and our health systems are handing out psychotropic drugs like candy! Children who are not paying attention in class are quickly prescribed Ritalin. Depressed teenagers are quickly given Prozac; the situation for adults is not much better.

Let’s look at modern rappers like “Lil Xan,” “Future,” and the recently deceased 20-year-old rapper, “Lil Peep,” who died from a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl. The rapper was frequently seen on Instagram swallowing Xanax pills daily. The young fans of his who idolized him are probably following his example.

According to the “business-insider” news site, the United States of America is the world leader in prescribing antidepressant medications. According to one of his published articles, it was found that 12% of all Americans are taking some form of medication to treat mental illness.

There are advantages and disadvantages to these numbers. Take South Korea, for example, a highly developed nation, yet it ranks #3 in suicides. In Korean culture, seeing a doctor for depression is a social stigma that shows weakness, especially on the part of a man. This is not surprising considering that 80% of all suicides in the world are attributed to men. Because mental illness is virtually ignored in South Korea and among men in general due to societal pressures to remain “stoic,” people commit suicide left and right.

On the other hand, the United States, which ranks between #30 – #40 (according to the study), in suicides. So there is some evidence that perhaps antidepressant medications can work. Or is it merely cultural? Jamaica often ranks at the bottom of the list for suicide rates despite being a poor country. Although they are poor, the communities are close-knit and their culture is very joyful. Maybe it’s because marijuana is legal to smoke in the country! Who knows!

But, I know one thing; Antidepressants and other drugs used to treat mental illness have many side effects. “Suicidal thoughts” are often listed as one of the top Prozac side effects. Imagine that! A drug designed for suicidal people that can cause suicidal thoughts! There is no doubt that taking psychotropics alters brain chemistry, just like alcohol or any other intoxicant.

In my opinion, occupational therapy, talk therapy, and community interaction are among the best treatments for depression. However, once again, there is also a downside to these types of therapies.

Every time an American sees a counselor for depression, suicidal thoughts, or any mental health issue, they are “recorded” and “stereotyped.” Those who frequent a mental health counselor could have such activities against them in a custody battle or those looking to purchase a firearm.

Imagine you’re struggling with depression, so you go see a counselor, only to have it used against you in the future. This is why many of us, myself included, dread the idea of ​​seeing a mental health specialist in times of great stress. Once you visit these people, you will be very “labeled” and you will be “marked”. If you face future litigation, the courts may uncover your medical records, while they will say:

“Ahhh! You’ve been to a mental health counselor multiple times for depression! You’re in no condition to own a gun or have custody of your children!”

In some cases, this may be true, while in others, it could be an unfair stereotype. When people mention seeing a counselor or taking antidepressant medication, they often make fun of you or maybe take a step back. We associate mental health problems with schizophrenia or severe manic-depressive types. The fact is that we all suffer from some form of mental illness.

If he’s too happy, doctors will say he’s “manic.” If you’re too grumpy, they’ll say you have a “type A” personality. If you are too sad, they will say that you suffer from serious “depression”. It’s a lot like going to a mechanic. If you talk long enough, they’ll find something wrong with you!

The truth is simple. Visiting a mental health counselor could result in the loss of rights to your child, his firearms, and his reputation as a person. It is a sad truth. Under our current system, most people don’t seek help for fear of being demonized.

The best ways we can prevent mass shootings is to foster a friendly community, surround yourself with loving people, do your best to be involved parents, seek out natural therapies for mental health disorders instead of drugs if possible (sports, occupational therapy, etc.). If you are hearing voices or frequently attempting to complete your suicide, then you should certainly look for medical intent.

Requesting mental health screenings to purchase firearms sounds like a great idea until you realize that most do not seek help in order to purchase a firearm. Why not assess people’s health status before they buy alcohol, get a driver’s license, or board a plane? Mental health can make almost any activity dangerous. Our country must stop looking for “quick” solutions and start looking for the real cause of our disappearance.

Our fast food, sexual violence, entertainment, glorification of anarchism misunderstood. There is “freedom” and then there is “responsible” freedom. Make decisions in life, however, make those decisions regarding how they will affect your society as a whole. Legislators cannot solve these problems. These are the issues that will require families to step up, come together, and return to the reign of traditional values ​​without overdoing it.

A middle ground must be struck between progressive thinking and traditional values. We must not be afraid to move our society forward, but neither must we completely ignore the traditional ways of life that have served our humanity for so long.

Finally, we must encourage greater anonymity within our mental health departments. You must like the “confessionals” of a Catholic church. If people can be treated anonymously without so much paperwork to stigmatize them, I’m sure a lot more people would step up and ask for help.

As a boxing coach, this job often requires me to be a counselor, talk to my students and build their confidence. If you’re depressed and need help, but don’t trust or fear doctors, staying active in group settings is a great alternative in my opinion. Building relationships is essential to fighting mental illness. In poor countries, suicide rates are often low because their communities are close-knit. They may be poor, but no one is as alone as the isolated modern man typing in the cold, artificially lit office cubicle.