We need to talk: Violent Behavior in People with Mental Health Disorders

Violence in Mental Health: I was just contacted by a US journalist regarding my opinion on the latest violent killing in Florida. I told her what I tell everyone. These killers have something in common- and it’s not a hate group or terrorism.


 


It’s mental health disorders.


 


I have studied violent behavior in mental health for many years including being honest with myself about my own violent mental health symptoms when I’m in a mood swing from my bipolar disorder. This is not only a gun issue- the person who did something similar in China used knives and in Sweden, a sword.


 


We have to WAKE UP and listen to what family members say about the person who committed the violent act. They speak of mental instability, drug use, problem relationships and failed psychiatric care.


 


I will speak up. I am not scared to tackle this. We have a violence in mental health problem that we are scared to address. If you look at ALL of the lone killers in the US in just the past few years, they all have something in common:


 


….failed psychiatric treatment.


 


People with mental illnesses are not inherently violent. When we are stable, we are regular people. But when our symptoms go untreated and we add drugs such as steroids or high THC marijuana to the mix, we are an internal bomb waiting to go off. That is terrorism of a very different kind.


 


There is no need to tell me that I’m wrong or that I’m painting all of us with the same brush. I’m giving an opinion from personal experience through myself and hundreds of clients. I have incredible compassion for the families who try to help people with obvious mental health concerns: families who are stopped cold by a system than no longer works. 


 


In my life, in my daily work and obviously in the news, I see a problem in MY COMMUNITY that we are not addressing correctly.


 


Mental illness needs treatment. Let’s join together and change the laws such as HIPPA and help family members get help for people who are ill and potentially dangerous. Then groups such as ISIS will not be able to recruit and perpetrate terrorism through people who are mentally unstable.


 


Julie


Click here to read the family side of the story. 

Related posts:
Mental Illness and Violent Behavior: An opinion from Julie A. Fast
Guest Blogger Tara Rolstad: Parenting Children with Mental Health Disorders. It Gets Better!
Media Fast for Mental Health Happiness