In light of the tragedy Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, we are inviting Nonprofit Street readers to share their perspectives on what we can do to make sure another event like this never happens again. The following post has been submitted as a guest blog post, offering a perspective on what we can do. To learn more about this guest blog series, and to find out how to submit a guest blog post, click here.

By Sara Struckman, Guest Blogger

We can throw blame around for what happened in Connecticut (or Aurora or Oregon or …): It’s gun laws … It’s the media … It’s those “crazy” people who carry out these heinous acts. But the sad reality is that it’s our fault, collectively. We need to demand that gun control laws protect the people and not individuals’ rights to bear arms. We can turn off the TV when the news sensationalizes these acts and makes famous the men behind them. We must demand that everyone, everyone has full and comprehensive access to mental health care—just as we do for physical health care. And we need to start focusing on prevention, not just reaction.

The current mental health systems in many states are inadequate to handle mental health crises, as the I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother article clearly articulates. Emergency rooms, often individuals’ only option when in crisis, are not equipped to deal with most mental health issues. Often, doctors prescribe something and discharge the patient. Or, those who experience serious mental health issues are not addressed properly and they land in prison.

In Colorado, the legislature has considered funding a comprehensive statewide mental health crisis initiative for several years. Metro Crisis Services is the only organization in Colorado providing crisis services. Two years ago, MCS launched a 24/7 crisis hotline and has been experiencing a significant increase in calls. MCS is moving toward creating a crisis system for the metro area and potentially the entire state—depending on funding from the state. This week, Gov. John Hickenlooper asked the Colorado Legislature for $18.5 to establish a crisis system. With a crisis system in place, individuals and families would have the option to access appropriate mental health services in a crisis.

It is so important to note that in a vast majority of cases, mental health crises involve individuals threatening harm to themselves, not others. Most violent crimes are committed by individuals who do not have a mental illness. However, part of the stigma associated with mental illness is perpetuated by these high profile murders in which the media and experts suspect that the perpetrators have a mental illness.

Even with a crisis system in place, the stigma associated with mental illness, and especially severe and persistent mental health issues, creates an invisible barrier to treatment. Often when individuals experience a mental health crisis, their support system erodes for a variety of reasons, including erratic behavior, loved ones not knowing how to help, etc. This is the complete opposite of what happens when most people experience a serious physical health problem. Many organizations in Colorado, including Mental Health America of Colorado, offer (often underfunded) programs that train people on how to address a mental health crisis—and where to refer people for appropriate help. It also opens the conversation about stigma.

Additionally, issues of workforce, diagnosis, treatments and drugs are also at the heart of the issue. There are not enough psychiatrists to fill the demand in this country. Often, individuals experiencing persistent mental health issues are not properly diagnosed and diagnoses vary substantially as do treatments. Finally, psychotropic drugs typically do not have the potential to produce much of a profit, so drug companies are cautious about developing new and effective drugs.

I’m not claiming that if this country addressed mental health in a different way that mass shootings would end. And I’m not trying to minimize the responsibility of the individual shooters. These are heinous crimes. But, if we don’t address these issues—along with many others—we will continue to mourn more and more victims without any hope of ending this epidemic of violence.