The Only Time Mental Health Was Discussed During the Democratic Debate

Sorry to get your hopes up, but mental health care reform was not given its own question during Tuesday night’s Democratic Presidential debate. Mental health was mentioned once, in a context that will make some advocates cringe.

When asked about his stance on gun control, candidate Bernie Sanders gave a quick shout out to mental health reform:

Also I believe, and I’ve fought for, to understand that there are thousands of people in this country today who are suicidal, who are homicidal, but can’t get the healthcare that they need, the mental healthcare, because they don’t have insurance or they’re too poor. I believe that everybody in this country who has a mental crisis has got to get mental health counseling immediately.

Although Bernie’s response was just a tip-of-the-iceberg statement about everything we could be talking about mental health-wise, reactions to his comment varied.

Some seemed disappointed that Sanders brought up mental health in the context of gun control.

A shout out to those in #recovery what did you think of last night’s #DemDebate? #Mentalhealth was addressed alongside #guncontrol not cool

— IHVN ILHearingVoices (@chhearingvoices) October 14, 2015

100% of the conversation of disability at #DemDebate was #Sanders blaming gun violence on mental health. Do better. http://t.co/ELPpTHuwxK

— David M. Perry (@Lollardfish) October 14, 2015

Disappointed @SenSanders conflating gun violence & mental illness #DemDebate #MentalHealthWeek2015 #nostigmas http://t.co/46H3ClLuER

— Camille (@lymeinabelljar) October 14, 2015

Some praised Sanders for bringing up the issue at all:

The fact that @BernieSanders is fighting for my right for mental health help on my healthcare makes me so fucking happy #DemDebate

— Courtney (@Lucidlullabyx) October 14, 2015

It is also good that Sanders is mentioning mental health in this country. That is a very important issue. #DemDebate

— Alan-Arthur Aurelia (@bassedelic) October 14, 2015

Others were just disappointed in general:

Disappointed that MentalHealth Reform wasn’t discussed during #DemDebate This is a serious issue that needs attention #mentalhealthawareness

— Jess (@Jess_2124) October 14, 2015

Can we talk about #mentalhealth with no connection to gun control? It’s not hard #DemDebate

— Dior Vargas (@DiorVargas) October 14, 2015

Mental health is such a bs scapegoat for gun violence. Stronger correlation between white men & gun violence than mental illness. #DemDebate

— Laci Green (@gogreen18) October 14, 2015

Disappointed that discussion of #mentalhealth during #DemDebate was in context of #GunViolence. NO ONE talked about #RealMHChange we need.

— Kathy Flaherty (@ConnConnection) October 14, 2015

Gun safety is NOT THE SAME ISSUE as mental health; don’t confuse 2 important issues #DemDebate #WeAreDemocrats #mndfl

— West Metro MN United (@StarshipDodie) October 14, 2015

Clearly the conversation isn’t over.

What do you think? What mental health issues do you wish were discussed in the presidential debates?