I read the article about the shootings of Mr. Everard Walker and Mr. Steven Jones, who were experiencing mental health episodes, with a heavy heart.
I am a psychiatric nurse and feel resources for those experiencing mental illness are woefully inadequate.
This results in situations with tragic outcomes like ones in Hartford. What also has to be understood is police officers have to make split second decisions when faced with an individual acting dangerously due their mental health decompensation.
It would have equally tragic if an officer had been killed.
As a society, we need to protect the first responders and provide care to keep patients stable.
Jessica Lewis RN, Newington