By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Recent political rhetoric has been increasingly using stigmatizing language to demean those with mental health conditions, particularly by figures like Donald Trump. This language is paired with actions that undermine mental health support systems, including cuts to federal programs and research grants. The impact of such policies disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, like LGBTQ youth, potentially leading to increased mental health crises and suicide rates. Experts are warning of the negative consequences, emphasizing the need for accessible resources and interventions to support those in need.
Read the original article here
Trump’s Mental Health Plan: Defund, Incarcerate, Disappear, as a concept, emerges from a disturbing pattern: the casual blaming of mental health for societal problems, coupled with a complete lack of investment in actual solutions. It’s a chilling trifecta that echoes historical injustices. The idea isn’t to help people, but to punish and ostracize them. The core of the plan seems to revolve around defunding mental health resources, incarcerating individuals deemed “defective” or “undesirable,” and effectively “disappearing” them from public view and concern.
Defunding mental health services is a particularly cruel irony. When politicians say the US has a mental health problem, and then do nothing, or worse, cut funding, it becomes clear that their concern is performative. Decades ago, the push for deinstitutionalization, though well-intentioned in theory, was a failure. It closed down hospitals without providing adequate community support, leading to homelessness and criminalization of those struggling with mental illness. Now, we’re seeing the same pattern, potentially on a larger scale. Taking away resources, especially for those who are vulnerable, is a recipe for disaster. It’s not compassionate to leave people with serious mental illnesses to fend for themselves on the streets, where they are easy targets for exploitation.
Incarceration serves as a dangerous substitute for care. Instead of providing treatment and support, the plan seemingly suggests locking people away. This approach not only fails to address the root causes of mental illness but also exacerbates existing problems. Prisons are often the largest providers of mental health services, not because they are equipped to do so, but because they become de facto holding facilities for the mentally ill. It is more expensive and less helpful than actual treatment. The idea of simply throwing people in jail and hoping the problem goes away is a simplistic and inhumane approach, yet we see this pattern continue.
Disappearing people is the ultimate form of rejection. It’s not just about removing them from society but also from the public consciousness. This act removes them from the conversation, from our empathy, and from our responsibility. This chilling echo of past atrocities where people are deemed “useless eaters” is profoundly disturbing. The suggestion is to not only isolate individuals but also to deny them their basic human dignity, their right to exist.
The plan’s potential implications are deeply concerning. It suggests a potential for a slow, insidious form of ethnic cleansing, targeting those who are perceived as different or inconvenient. It raises the specter of eugenics, where those who cannot contribute to society, as defined by the powerful, are discarded. The potential for abuse is immense, and the consequences could be devastating.
This isn’t about finding solutions. The underlying philosophy seems to be that these people, the “defective,” are a liability and should be removed. This is the most cynical and destructive approach to a complex problem. Those who have mental health issues need extended, involuntary treatment, and in some cases, they may never be able to function independently. To make them vanish, or to let them suffer on the streets, is a complete abdication of responsibility.
The conversation surrounding Trump and mental health is fraught, and it is important to separate political rhetoric from real solutions. We must approach mental health with compassion and a commitment to providing care. The focus should be on treatment, support, and creating a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their mental state. The alternatives are devastating.