Serious Mental illness and violence.
Greetings!!
Here are some links to some information about recovery and also on the prevalence of violence among people with serious mental illness.
Serious Mental Illness and Violence
http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/publications/facts.aspx?printid=1
http://depts.washington.edu/mhreport/facts_violence.php
http://psychcentral.com/archives/violence.htm
http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/09/18/expert-people-with-mental-illness-more-likely-to-have-violence-done-to-them-than-to-inflict-harm-on-others/
http://www.cmha.ca/mental_health/violence-and-mental-illness/
Serious Mental Illness and Recovery
http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/1112223420.aspx
http://www.power2u.org/articles/recovery/people_can.html
Have a fantastic day and I will be sending you more stuff more related to facilitating advisory councils in a few days!!
Tom
(email from Tom to Robert Tilford and 52 others)
Dear Sir,
People With Severe Mental Illness 12 Times More Likely to Commit Suicide (source:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101206161740.htm)
According to the psychiatrist Karl A. Menninger “murder and suicide are interchangeable acts” – suicide sometimes forestalling murder, and vice versa (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder–suicide).
It is therefore reasonable to assume a tangible and real connection of some type exists here. As well conclude that people who are more prone to suicide are also more prone to murder ( and/or “violence” – generally speaking).
Now I realize and fully appreciate the fact that the research you presented doesn’t support that position. And I realize, of course there are always exceptions to the rule.
And I do agree with you that people with serious mental illness can be disproportionately represented as victims of violence in many cases – especially among women and children – a fact that is extremely disturbing to me on a purely human and emotional level as well.
But among men that is not necessarily true.
Look I know men with SMI who are truly violent, and pathologically violent in the extreme.They hear voices, sometimes – including those commanding them in some cases to kill people and kill themselves. I know this for a fact and I know many of these individuals personally from my time over at Nova Safe Haven and CASS Homeless shelter and I can tell you right now they were scaring the hell out of everyone over there…
Many of these same individuals are now assigned to the Capitol Center (as Chronically homeless mentally ill individuals with severe substance abuse issues, particularly alcohol and drugs) and they are still prone to violent acts and behavior -despite being on some very serious anti psychotic medications, including the shots in the butt they are court ordered in many cases to get…
Many of these same men will also flip out over the most mundane and ordinary situations whenever they get frustrated or perceive that they have been disrespected in some way.
Many victimize people over and over again, especially their girlfriends in many cases. And on more than one occasion I have gotten hit in the face trying to intervene on behalf of their victims on the street – who oddly enough usually turn on me in those situations and defend their abusers?
I have also been victimized myself – one individual at my clinic actually wanted to beat me down because I accidentally bumped into him one time coming in the door of the clinic by accident. Another guy wanted to fight me at the clinic because he thought I was looking at him?
Still another guy accused me of being a “cop” – because I happened to walk by and see him make a drug buy right across the street from my clinic from a local drug dealer punk…Being called a “cop” is super dangerous and can get you killed on the street if your not extremely careful.
A lot of these men are in and out of jail or prison regularly, as you can imagine. I should also mention that there is a very good reason why we have a security guard posted at this location… and it has nothing to do with the fact that these same individuals are “victims” of violence – but quite the opposite. Many come into my clinic armed with knifes and stuff concealed in their clothing or in their backpack and I worry about that – especially since the security guard is unarmed and not very well trained in hand to hand combat tactics, self defense and verbal judo techniques.
At times it can be quite stressful.
I also worry about my safety of the personal safety of other SMI clients and the safety of staff and management at my clinic all the time – many of whom seem perfectly oblivious to the threat that is only one tiny argument or disagreement away from escalating into violence in many cases if not handled correctly.
Many people I talk to about this issue of violence and the propensity toward violence by some SMI at my clinic in particular – write it off as me just being paranoid again…so I have to be very careful in just mentioning the subject sometimes. Staff here, quite frankly don’t even want to hear it. So I can’t really speak freely about it, even within the context of council meetings.
As you know all agenda items are discussed before the clinic council meetings and have to be vetted by my peer support team first before I can mention or discuss such things publicly at meetings. Often times my items that I suggest be discussed or mentioned are declined by them as inappropriate for discussion at meetings. I, of course obey and respect their judgment in this and all matters pertaining to the clinic council – since I serve only at their discretion and can be relieved of my position at any time – if I don’t follow the rules set by them or waiver in what I discuss at council meetings.
Changing gears here a bit –
I am personally of the opinion that people who kill or murder other people (except for self defense or to save the life of another) – are “mentally ill” by definition.
Adj.
mentally ill – suffering from severe mental illness; “of unsound mind”
unsound, unstable, insane – afflicted with or characteristic of mental derangement.
As such I oppose the death penalty on moral grounds for capitol murder cases. I also oppose the death penalty for anyone determined to be seriously mentally ill or SMI.
I also believe that what separates us from people who kill or murder other people is that we don’t in turn murder ( execute, terminate or put to death) people who murder.
This may or may not make much sense to you.
I try explaining that sometimes to people – and their mouths usually drop and eyes glaze over in shock and disbelief at what I say.
It certainly doesn’t make sense to the majority of people I talk to about this subject – maybe it never will. In fact people love to argue with me on this issue all the time. I recognize I am in the minority of people here in the United States who oppose the death penalty – under all circumstances – on moral grounds.
On another issue:
Can people who suffer mental illness recover? Of course they can – no one questions that. That is not really the issue. But we have to recognize the threat for what it is and deal with it honestly.
But in terms of what do do about this problem of serious mental illness murder, suicide and violence as a supposedly “civilized society” – is something I have no idea how to fix really and I have studied this issue for years.
I do believe that people with serious mental illness have no business with guns or weapons of any kind, especially those prone to suicide. That’s my personal opinion – I therefore support the right of the state to deny people with SMI the right to own guns.
I do believe we need to address this issue of mental illness and violence in a national discussion.
I should also mention to you that I have actually attended public meeting of people who were outraged over a mental health treatment center or half way house or supportive housing units being located within their neighborhood.
I have talked with these people and they have very real and legitimate concerns for their safety and the safety of their children and loved ones – and they are extremely passionate about their positions on that issue. And I have learned the hard way not to try to argue with them about that.
With all that being said I do appreciate your efforts to address this issue in discussion and share information regarding your position on this subject. I also want you to know that I do take the time to review everything you send to me (and the other clinic council members) very carefully. I look forward to working with you on these and other issues involving the clinic council.
Sincerely
Robert
(email from Robert back to Tom).