Violence, Mental Health, and Society
In light of the recent Isla Vista shooting case, it seems appropriate to have a conversation about violence, mental health, and society. In the wake of tragedy and loss, it is natural for society to try to make sense of what contributes to acts of mass violence in order to prevent such acts in the future. In the media, experts have discussed the implications of various mental health and personality disorders, and the connection between mental illness and violent behavior. However, as discussed by John Monahan, a distinguished contributor to the psychology of violence and risk, the consensus of modern scholarly opinion is such that there is no direct causal link between mental illness and violence. In an article exploring the link between mental disorders to violent behavior (American Psychologist, 1992), Monahan suggests that the belief that mental illness causes violent behavior is important because such beliefs inform how law and public policy are applied toward mentally ill individuals. In addition, societal beliefs may also perpetuate stigmatization against mentally ill individuals who are perceived by society as dangerous. Both researchers and mental health professionals agree that the predictors of violence are complex. When compared to demographic and socioeconomic contexts as well as the magnitude of risk associated with other factors, Monahan indicates that risk for violence associated with major mental illness does exist, but that the overall relationship between mental illness and violence is modest. Furthermore, current prevalence studies suggest that mentally ill individuals are responsible for no more than five percent of violent acts in the United States. And yet, stigmatization perpetuated by fear and misunderstanding will prevent the majority of individuals who need mental health care from seeking services. Therefore, it is important to continue the discourse about violence prevention and encourage access to mental health care in order to effectively implement appropriate early intervention strategies and curtail future tragedies.