Coloradans living with mental illness say comments after El Paso, Dayton mass shootings further stigmatize

By: Jessica Seaman

August 8, 2019

Once again, as the nation reels in the aftermath of back-to-back mass shootings, mental health is a focus of discussion, with President Donald Trump on Wednesday saying of the perpetrators: “These are people that are really mentally ill, mentally disturbed.”

“It’s a mental problem,” Trump said — echoing comments by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and others — before flying to Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, cities where gunmen killed 31 people and injured dozens more in two separate shooting sprees over the weekend.

But Coloradans living with mental illnesses say such comments further stigmatize them, while shifting the conversation away from topics such as guns and racism. Medical experts agree.

“It’s like I’m being painted with a broad brush,” said Denver resident Karisa Hunt, who said she has anxiety and depression.

Read the full story, Denver Post.