Former “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer” star, Nicholas Brendon has appeared on video slashing his wrists in what seems like an attempted suicide. Brendon, who played Xander in the hit 90’s TV show, admitted he’ll be checking into rehab on Monday.
The actor has had a troubled year; last month Brendon was arrested in New York City for allegedly choking his girlfriend, and earlier this year he trashed a hotel room after he felt he deserved an upgrade “for being a TV star.”
Police report that Brendon has had several instances of “mental health episodes.” Brendon is the latest celebrity whose mental health issues have come into the spotlight. After Cathriona White, Jim Carrey’s girlfriend took her own life, it’s time to start talking about mental health and taking it seriously.
The National Institute for Mental Health reports that nearly 23 million people in the United States suffer from schizophrenia. While this does not mean that these people are all potential mass-murderers or suicide cases, they need support for their own and their families’ well-being.
While the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) increased the coverage of mental health issues, it may not be enough. Simply put, the government needs to put more money into mental health treatment resources. There are several bills in the Senate that would help increase government spending on mental health care. However, the ways of more efficiently helping people who suffer from mental health issues are still hotly debated. Some argue that more clinical treatment is necessary, while other argue that better welfare for the afflicted and their families might be the way to go.
As of now, the only truth in this debate is that we need to pay more attention as a country to mental health issues.
