Mental illness a threat to us all

The city of Seattle was stunned Wednesday after having experienced a rampaging murderer in its midst.

Yet, the brother of this gunman said, “We saw it coming.” The family had watched the alarming behavior get worse over the years with very little they could do.

The amount of help available for families with mentally ill members is less because of the economy and state budget woes. What people do not realize is by not making treatment for mental illness as important as cardiac care, they are neglecting a silent danger that may erupt into a public nightmare like we saw on Wednesday.

Priorities must change to provide a way to effectively help these families and intervene before it is too late.

Marietta Alexander

Everett

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

Anne Sarinas, left, and Lisa Kopecki, right, sort ballots to be taken up to the election center to be processed on Nov. 3, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: States right to keep voter rolls for proper purpose

Trump DOJ’s demand for voters’ information is a threat to the integrity of elections.

THis is an editorial cartoon by Michael de Adder . Michael de Adder was born in Moncton, New Brunswick. He studied art at Mount Allison University where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drawing and painting. He began his career working for The Coast, a Halifax-based alternative weekly, drawing a popular comic strip called Walterworld which lampooned the then-current mayor of Halifax, Walter Fitzgerald. This led to freelance jobs at The Chronicle-Herald and The Hill Times in Ottawa, Ontario.

 

After freelancing for a few years, de Adder landed his first full time cartooning job at the Halifax Daily News. After the Daily News folded in 2008, he became the full-time freelance cartoonist at New Brunswick Publishing. He was let go for political views expressed through his work including a cartoon depicting U.S. President Donald Trump’s border policies. He now freelances for the Halifax Chronicle Herald, the Toronto Star, Ottawa Hill Times and Counterpoint in the USA. He has over a million readers per day and is considered the most read cartoonist in Canada.

 

Michael de Adder has won numerous awards for his work, including seven Atlantic Journalism Awards plus a Gold Innovation Award for news animation in 2008. He won the Association of Editorial Cartoonists' 2002 Golden Spike Award for best editorial cartoon spiked by an editor and the Association of Canadian Cartoonists 2014 Townsend Award. The National Cartoonists Society for the Reuben Award has shortlisted him in the Editorial Cartooning category. He is a past president of the Association of Canadian Editorial Cartoonists and spent 10 years on the board of the Cartoonists Rights Network.
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, Dec. 4

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Don’t blame Fred Meyer for closure

I was a retail grocery story worker for 45 yeas, and I… Continue reading

If awarded to Trump, end the Nobel Peace Prize

Donald Trump is a warmonger. He has authorized the bombing and killing… Continue reading

Goldberg: Serious journalism scandal hides inside sexual one

Olivia Nuzzi’s ‘American Canto’ seems unaware of her part in a betrayal of journalistic responsibility.

Comment: Campbell’s should have defended more than its soup

A leaked conversation disparaged employees and customers; two important ingredients for a company.

Comment: Zillow axing climate risk data doesn’t elimate risk

Sellers and their agents would rather not talk about risks, but buyers should demand info or beware.

Editorial cartoons for Wednesday, Dec. 3

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Aleen Alshamman carries her basket as she picks out school clothes with the help of Operation School Bell volunteers on Sept. 24, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Feeling generous? Your help is needed here, elsewhere

Giving Tuesday invites your financial support and volunteer hours for worthy charities and nonprofits.

Elizabeth Ferrari, left, hands her mom Noelle Ferrari her choice of hot sauce from the large selection at Double DD Meats on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Keeping the shopping fun and the money local

Small Business Saturday allows support of shops that are key to the local economy. And it’s more fun.

Story Corps
Editorial: Political debate isn’t on Thanksgiving menu for most

A better option for table talk are family stories. Share them with the Great Thanksgiving Listen.

Burke: What started as nibble now a feeding frenzy on democracy

Our democracy and rule of law are suffering wounds, slight to serious from the Trump administration.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.