Political Indifference: The Real ‘ Crazy ’

Don’t ask, don’t tell. Naive you, you thought Congress had unceremoniously dumped this relic years ago. Sadly, when it comes to mental health issues among the purported Washington elite, the policy is alive and well. And the American public is complicit. Our politicians, regardless of political allegiance, hurl mental health insults at each other. The Republican Party, in particular, is unsparing in its vitriol. GOP standard-bearer Donald Trump and Jeb Bush disparage each other as mentally unfit. President Obama characterizes the political opposition as crazy. A political journalist and mental health consumer, I straddle both of these worlds. Considering a quarter of the American population has a diagnosable mental health issue, the rhetoric is tasteless at best. But in today’s polarized political environment, impugning someone’s mental fitness is a calculated political strategy. In 2014, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gleefully boasted about his campaign’s plans to debase Ashley Judd and her mental health struggles. America prides itself on its diversity; our elected officials reflect our inclusiveness. President Obama is the country’s first African-American president; Hillary Clinton is the prohibitive favorite to replace him. In the Senate, Barney Frank has been a LGBT linchpin. There are prominent Jews, Latinos, and cultural or religious minorities in high-ranking Cabinet positions. As a mental health advocate, our community is earnestly awaiting our p...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Brain and Behavior Bullying Celebrities Disorders Ethics & Morality General Industrial and Workplace Policy and Advocacy Success & Achievement America Barack Obama Barney Frank Cabinet Democratic Party Donald Trump Hillary Ro Source Type: blogs