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Untreated mental illness can kill

The culprit in last month’s plane crash in France that killed 150 people may have been caused by mental illness, or more specifically, our society’s ignorance of mental illess.

Andrew Lubitz, the Germanwings co-pilot who was at the helm, had informed Lufthansa German Airlines that he suffered from severe depression in 2009.

Email records also found that Lubitz took a leave of absence but was planning to return to the company’s training program.

Many jumped to conclusions about the pilot’s terrorist tendencies.

For example, a French prosecutor claimed that Lubitz deliberately crashed the plane because he had a terrorist background, when in fact he didn’t.

This horrible tragedy could be a catalyst for us – across the globe – to take a serious look at mental illness.

According to the World Health Organization, 27 percent of the adult population had experienced at least one mental disorders in the past year.

Also, one out of 15 Europeans suffer from major depression, the WHO reports. According to National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in four adults, or approximately 61.5 million Americans, experiences mental illness in a given year.

One in 17, or about 13.6 million, live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder, NAMI reports.

Mental illness is no joke. Had Lubitz’ depression been dealt with appropriately, 150 lives may have been spared.

Airlines and aviation agencies are searching for a way to structurally and procedurally prevent tragedies similar to last month’s Germanwings crash.

It shouldn’t have taken something this catastrophic, but let’s hope this puts mental health on the public radar. Let’s reduce the stigma and take necessary action.

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Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.

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