Typewriter with News

Andrew Toles and the LA Dodgers Are Another Case Where This Shouldn’t be What is Necessary

ByMikeM Reading Time: 2 minutes

I’m a Dodgers fan. I have been since I was a kid. When the new baseball season was about to start, they announced that they were, once again, signing Andrew Toles to a contract for no money, even though he wouldn’t play for the organization in any way. They were doing this so that he could maintain access to health insurance for treating bipolar and schizophrenia.

As the Mighty points how though, this is a feel-good story that isn’t something we should feel good about.

For the Dodgers, it is a genuinely good gesture to keep Toles on the roster so he can access medical benefits that he needs for treatment. But it paints more of a dystopian picture of our social safety nets as a country. Where someone who could benefit from the basic human support is instead turned into a feel-good story about an organization worth $4.8 billion who is offering no other financial assistance.

As they say, good for the Dodgers to at least provide access to medical care. It is the bare minimum, but at least it’s something. Moreover, why do we live in a world where that is required? As I said a few years back about Delonte West and Mark Cuban:

It shouldn’t require being a former NBA star with a connection to a billionaire owner to get help. Good for them for making this happen, but what do all the people living on the streets with serious mental illness who aren’t former professional athletes get? Where do they go? Who is finding them and taking them to rehab instead of jail? Why isn’t there a resource that doesn’t require this level of intervention?

That’s the question we need to ask ourselves. Great, the Dodgers are keeping him under “contract” so he has medical coverage that helps him as an individual. What happens to everyone else in the same boat? Who’s getting them treatment and the coverage to pay for it?

Similar Posts

  • There’s No Magic Pill

    ByMikeM Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Mental health is complicated. The solution to one individual case is complicated. The solution to the lack of resources is complicated. Telling people to get more exercise, let alone selling them the diet and workout that will solve all their mental health issues, is a fraud, isn’t it? Saying that we simply need to give everyone free therapy without addressing the serious shortage of therapists is as well.

    Anyone who suggests there is a simple solution to the mental health problem facing us as a country and the world is not to be taken seriously.

  • |

    Sharing – What Not to Do: Seven Things to Keep in Mind When Helping Someone with a Mental Health Challenge

    ByMikeM Reading Time: 1 minute

    I think the entire list of seven things provided by Mental Health First Aid below, is good, but this one, in particular, is something I think we all need to keep in mind:

    “Do not be hostile or sarcastic when the person attempts to be responsive, but instead accept their responses as the best the person has to offer at that time.”

    I think it’s fair to say that right now, most of us are dealing with some challenges. If ever there was a time to accept that replying to your text, or responding to a question you have might not be the foremost thing on someone’s mind, it’s now.

    Between dealing with kids going back to school, and whatever that looks like, protests and violence, constant pandemic concerns around illness or loss of loved ones, and massive employment insecurity, there’s a lot going on that we are all trying to deal with as best as we can. I’d argue that we are all dealing with some pretty huge mental health challenges right now, so if you have people trying to stay in contact with you, to check in, or support you, give them a little grace. The fact that they are even trying right now should say a lot, and I hope we can all appreciate the imperfect efforts anyone puts in.

  • Have We Overlooked Men When Talking About Body Shaming?

    ByMikeM Reading Time: 2 minutes

    I’ve been lucky enough to see a couple of men talk about eating disorders, and body image, but I’ll be the first to admit, if you asked me, based on what I see and hear, if these were mostly women’s issues, I’d probably say yes. But that’s wrong. These are very much men’s issues and trans issues as well. We make jokes about dad bods and assume it’s no big deal because it’s men, and they don’t have the same problems, and hang ups, but we do. There are far more people in the world struggling with their body, and disordered eating, who aren’t included in the conversation because we assume it’s a young women’s issue. 

  • |

    Link – Children of alcoholic parents calling helpline to hear bedtime stories

    ByMikeM Reading Time: 1 minute

    First off, this is incredibly sad. There’s no other way to react to this story. Secondly, this also illustrates just what a problem the world currently has with addiction. There are far, far too many people self-medicating because they cannot get any other form of help, whether that is because of a lack of available…

  • Boy Scouts of America’s CSA Files Partially Analysed by LA Times

    ByCBG Reading Time: 1 minute

    Last weekend, the Los Angeles Times reported on information which came to light after more revelations emerged from the BSA’s files. These documents recorded abusive or potentially abusive adults applying to be Scout leaders or working within the organisation. Whilst the article concentrated on a 21 year period, the complete pile of paperwork covers almost…

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Your post must include a link to this post.

How does this work?
Write a response on your own website and include a link to this post. Then submit your response’s URL here. Your response may appear here after moderation. To update or remove it, edit or delete your original post and submit the same URL again. Learn more about Webmentions.