Shooting suspect Aaron Ybarra stands with legs shackled together while he appears in court at the King County Jail in Seattle June 6. The man accused of killing one person and wounding two others in a shooting spree at a small Christian college in Seattle suffers from "significant and long-standing mental health issues" his lawyer said. (CNS photo/David Ryder, Reuters)
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
- Matt. 5:6
October 10 is the 12th World Day Against the Death Penalty, and this year, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty is focusing on mental health. (Oct. 10 is also the World Health Organization’s World Mental Health Day and is focused this year on schizophrenia, which affects 21 million people.) The intersection of law enforcement and people with mental health problems is well documented, and the coalition is drawing attention to people with mental health problems who are at risk of a death sentence or execution.
