Mar 6, 2016 2 min read

The Feb. 28 edition of the Observer-Reporter had a short story, “A Very Sad Case,” concerning Sandra A. Andrews, who drove her car into Canonsburg Lake and died in the process, perhaps committing suicide.

This apparently was the same woman who, according to the article, drove her car into Canonsburg Lake on Feb. 14. The lake was frozen then and she did not die.

My letter does not seek to blame anyone, but to point out the abysmal state of our mental health system. Granted, there are dedicated professionals out there, many who work for peanuts trying to help people who are experiencing a crisis in their lives.

Mental illness is a condition that touches all ages and will touch a large majority of us at one time or another in some way or another. Additionally, there are no firm statistics or reporting requirements when it comes to people who fail at suicide and are injured in the process.

There is treatment available. Find out what is available and take action.

Whatever happened or did not happen with Andrews, from the first suicide attempt to her death, we did not meet her needs.

Jim Hassett

Jefferson