Humans have practiced medicine for millennia, with the modern Hippocratic Oath tracing its origins to ancient Greece. Named after Hippocrates, who lived between 460 and 370 BC, this oath is a cornerstone of medical ethics.
Remarkably, evidence of medical practices dates back even further. A Neanderthal with a dental abscess was found to have plant residues in his dental plaque, which was found to be the precursor to aspirin.
Additionally, traces of penicillium, the mold that produces penicillin, were also discovered in his plaque. This suggests that early hominins, like many animals today, instinctively used their environment to find remedies for illness and pain. The instinct to seek out medicinal plants may be a deep-rooted behavior in living beings, illustrating a timeless quest for health and relief from suffering.
On the other hand, our understanding of ancient practices related to what we now call psychiatry is limited. While it’s widely accepted that the practice of medicine, potentially addressing some psychiatric conditions, dates back to the earliest humans, psychiatry as a distinct field is relatively new, emerging only about 300 years ago.
Our comprehension of the human body as a biological system significantly exceeds our understanding of the mind. Despite this, many aspects of the body remain elusive. New illnesses and conditions are continually being discovered, and many known conditions continue to puzzle scientists and medical professionals.
Mentally Ill Patients Deserve Respect and Dignity Like Everyone Else
When people are mentally ill, they should receive the same respect and care as those with physical illnesses, such as cancer. Unfortunately, in America and many other parts of the world, mentally ill patients often face poor treatment. This disparity may stem from the difficulty in understanding mental illnesses and the relative ineffectiveness of current treatments.
The notion that there is a pill for every ailment is a misconception propagated by Big Pharma, but it is not always true. While some mental health patients benefit from the proper medications at the right doses, the process involves significant trial and error. Many individuals lack access to healthcare, let alone a dedicated care team capable of addressing their needs. Determining the appropriate treatment can take a considerable amount of time. In the interim, what happens to these patients?
A Crisis Decades in the Making
In the 1980s, funding cuts led to the closure of many mental hospitals, leaving numerous mental health patients homeless and on the streets with nowhere else to go. Social Security Income (SSI) cannot cover basic living expenses, even when supplemented with food stamps and Medicaid. Moreover, many patients are not mentally equipped to navigate the complex and challenging social services systems.
While I may not be mentally ill, I am neurodiverse, and I find the system overwhelming and frustrating. I can only imagine what someone suffering from psychosis might experience in trying to access the support they need. The inadequacy of the current support system leaves many vulnerable individuals without the necessary care and resources.
Growing Number of Older People Abandoned to the Streets
As of 2024, we are witnessing a growing number of elderly individuals entering homelessness. This trend adds a new dimension to the mental health crisis, as a significant portion of these seniors suffer from memory care illnesses. Some have outlived their families and find themselves completely alone, while others are so difficult to manage that their families are unable to cope, leading to abandonment.
Many of these elderly individuals fall through the cracks of the social support system. They are too impaired to function normally but not so advanced in their Alzheimer’s or dementia that they draw immediate attention by wandering into traffic or setting their homes on fire. This intermediate state leaves them particularly vulnerable, highlighting the urgent need for more comprehensive and compassionate care solutions.
I have extensive experience in elder care, particularly with memory care patients. While some individuals are sweet, just confused or forgetful, many can be challenging, like a particular patient I know who is prone to violent outbursts and is sometimes so nasty and belligerent that most caregivers would not want the case.
The situation is dire for those who are very poor and unable to make ends meet. They often end up on the streets. Many of those patients have no family and no one to eventually help them transition to a nursing home. They fall through the cracks of the social support system, unable to find the assistance they desperately need.
Disconnect Between Society’s Privileged and Vulnerable People
According to multi-billionaire Elon Musk, all homeless people are mentally ill drug addicts, a sentiment he recently shared on Twitter. As someone who has been named one of the most influential people on the planet by Time magazine four times, his opinion carries significant weight, making it even more dangerous.
It’s important for us to challenge such misconceptions and question our own perceptions and biases about homelessness and mental illness. Not only is Musk wrong, but he also presents his opinion as factual information rather than just a personal view. This misrepresentation supports the criminalization of homelessness.
It is deeply troubling that a man with more wealth than he could ever spend, who lacks nothing materially, would advocate for policies that exacerbate the suffering of those already living in the dire circumstances of poverty. His stance highlights a disturbing disconnect between the privileged and the vulnerable in our society.
Criminalizing Homelessness Is Inhumane
If homelessness is criminalized and mentally ill, homeless individuals are labeled as criminals simply for not having a home, what becomes of them?
With the eradication of funding for mental health facilities, many of these individuals were left to fend for themselves on the streets. If we are not going to provide treatment, what is the alternative? Will we lock them away in new asylums or place them in the general prison population, potentially in internment camps? Will these camps enforce forced labor? Or, in a more extreme and distressing scenario, will we offer them the MAID option (medical assistance in dying)?
These questions highlight the dire consequences of criminalizing homelessness without addressing the underlying issues of mental health and poverty.
Why would a multi-billionaire lead the charge on criminalizing homelessness? He resides in his golden tower, far removed from the everyday lives of ordinary people, especially those he dismissively labels as the dregs of society. His wealth insulates him from the struggles homeless people face. And, even if governments were to spend substantial amounts addressing homelessness (which is unlikely), it wouldn’t impact his bottom line. So, why does he care? His stance seems detached from reality and devoid of the empathy and understanding needed to address such a complex issue.
It’s Time to End the Cycle of Neglect
Once upon a time, kings and emperors relied on poor people to tend the fields, serve their masters, and work as blacksmiths. Today, people experiencing poverty are increasingly seen as dispensable. We are no longer even needed to flip burgers or toil in Amazon factories, as robotics are swiftly replacing human workers (as evidenced by innovations like CaliBurger’s Flippy).
Compassionate treatment of the mentally ill has historically been lacking and, sadly, seems unlikely to improve. Those without wealth are often dehumanized, labeled as lazy, drug or alcohol addicts, or insane. This dehumanization allows those living in comfort to do so without guilt, convincing themselves that “those people want to live that way.” Let me assure you, we don’t!
By blaming the disadvantaged for their circumstances, society absolves itself of responsibility, perpetuating a cycle of neglect and misunderstanding. This lack of empathy and support further marginalizes those already struggling, making it clear that systemic change is desperately needed.
