Writing Journal Assignment #3

Kaitlin Chupka
Eng1050 – 20
Writing Journal Assignment #3

After reading, I thought that the article itself was strange. The author included statistics in almost every paragraph, and all of the statistics jumped into different subjects. It made me skeptical of what arguments the author was trying to put forward. I feel, though, that the issue of the article revolves mostly around the healthcare system and availability of proper health care in the US, even to those who may not be able to afford it. It is evident that the level of care that mentally ill patients have been getting has decreased substantially over time. The statistics don't lie, the release of ill patients can cause societal problems with violence, but their cases took place in towns or small cities, not in major metropolises. It is hard for me to think that the numbers these studies came up with can be accurate if they are using isolated cases to explain the rise of mental health-related violence throughout the entire United States. Those with mental illnesses should be required to recieve help, even if it does involve a struggle. Judging from the statistics in the article, though the argument they provide is skeptical, there is a specific population whose impacts we can pinpoint and try to reverse. While it seems to be a growing issue amongst Americans, I think that the care provided to mentally disabled individuals should be looked at more carefully and given more priority.