In the Wake of a Murder

A Disturbing Public Response

Photo by Irham Setyaki on Unsplash

As a psychotherapist, I’ve witnessed how the stress of navigating our healthcare system impacts mental health. The barriers to affordable, quality care often leave people feeling helpless, anxious, and unseen—a pain that runs deeper than most realize.

The recent murder of a health insurance executive has left many of us grappling with a mix of emotions—shock, grief, and a simmering frustration over the state of our healthcare system. This tragedy underscores just how deeply healthcare issues affect us all. When people face insurmountable barriers to affordable, quality care, it’s no wonder that feelings of anger and helplessness arise.

Our hearts go out to the victim’s family during this difficult time.

As we reflect on this event, we must confront an unsettling truth: these emotions can sometimes twist into misplaced schadenfreude or a sense of grim satisfaction over a system we feel powerless to change. But violence, in any form, is never the answer. R…