The article highlights the plight of autistic individuals like Axel Rudakubana, who faced isolation and mental health struggles, and their parents who similarly suffer from the lack of adequate support. The author connects personal experience with broader societal issues, criticizing the mental health system for discharging patients who are not engaging. It also raises concerns about knife violence, suggesting stricter controls on sharp-pointed objects, while advocating for the production of safer alternatives to reduce domestic risks. Overall, it calls for a more compassionate approach to vulnerable populations, especially amidst increasing mental health crises.
My son is autistic; he fits Keir Starmer's loners, misfits, young men in their bedroom labelling to a T. He too has been marginalised, bullied and rarely leaves the house.
Axel Rudakubana had been a child asking for help. Like his parents, I have heard that phrase from mental health services too: He's not engaging, so we need to discharge him from our service.
When I hear Keir Starmer pledging to address the misfits and loners isolated in their bedrooms, I wonder what this means. I do hope he will fund more services for autistic people in crisis.
Reducing the domestic availability of sharp-pointed objects is also a feasible objective. The aggressive use of a knife without a pointed blade is much more difficult, and easier to defend against.
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