Thank you @NormOrnstein for bringing attention to this issue,. And so sorry for the loss of your son. My mother suffered from mental health issues for her whole life, and I lost her before I reached age 30. Bless you sir. https://twitter.com/NormOrnstein/status/1250027380988686337

Mr. Ornstein, my mother suffered from mental health issues and alcoholism most of her life, spending many years in the hospital. And perhaps she purposely ended her own life at age 62, through a toxic mix of alcohol, prescription drugs. It was the toughest day of my life.

Your focus on mental health and our justice system is truly important. I work serving on the Justice Services Board here in STL and reports are that many if not most people in the jail suffer from mental health problems. We ignore mental health at our peril.

We have historically underfunded and under-resourced mental health care. And then we wonder why people with mental health problems end up in jail, and why the police have to serve as the first responders to mental health crises. It's absurd.