2 random attacks in Pittsburgh raise questions about safety, mental health treatment

Pittsburgh's public safety director said the system fails to address the underlying problems of homelessness, addiction and mental illness.

[@blacksawjohnnyhex310]

Thats a failure of the district attorney’s move out .

[@pantaleimona]

The failure lies in the US local and state government, imo. In many jurisdictions, it's very difficult to get mental healthcare for those in need. Those with boots on the ground -- social workers, mental healthcare professionals, and the police have their plates full to overflowing already. The police cannot be held responsible for being social or healthcare workers, but that's what is expected of them by the system. As time goes by "health care" becomes an oxymoron in the US. The problems at the intersection of mental health and homelessness and drug abuse amongst in the homeless community won't get better without the willingness of local government to sit down at the table with social workers, police, mental healthcare professionals to devise a workable plan. It wouldn't be simple or easy. The tyranny of the urgent interferes with this possibility, as does any apathy on the part of those involved in local, state, and US government.

[@mikebott6940]

So now it's clear that Downtown has a bad reputation- and this is why big businesses are either leaving or leery about staying. City government ought to be doing something.

[@duuuude3208]

Yinz voted for it