December 17, 2014 13:00 — 2 Comments
Mental Illness Is the Wrong Scapegoat After Mass Shootings
A study published in the journal American Journal of Public Health analyzes data regarding mental health and shooting deaths, concluding that a scarce minority of shootings are committed by mentally ill individuals, despite popular beliefs. The paper details research spanning four decades of crime data and literature, targeting incidents linked to individuals with a diagnosed mental illness. Researchers discovered that shootings committed by mentally ill individuals were nearly nonexistent statistically. “Fewer than 5 percent of the 120,000 gun-related killings in the United States between 2001 and 2010 were perpetrated by people diagnosed with mental illness,” explained the authors. The typical shooting assailant in North America was more likely to be influenced by drug and alcohol use, violent histories, and stress in personal relationships than a psychological condition. The authors speculate that cultural tensions have caused citizens to label the mentally ill as possible threats to their safety. To learn more about this study, click here.
How people accept death, normal or after violent act varies from place to place, society to society. Cultural issues also vary a lot. Therefore this study should be undertaken internationally. How people reacted to the drowning of Korean school going kids or how the relatives of two Malaysia Airline disasters reacted also deserve points for furthering this study. Incidents of drowning and plane crushes might have caused sever trauma to the mental health of those left behind compared to Mass shooting. Studies can outline how and why it differs if it does.
Report this comment
The point is well taken, but the public outcry is about the mass shootings. Clearly, those instances, as publicly reported, document the underlying mental illness of the perpetrators. I would agree with the conclusion regarding “garden variety” homicide. The mass shootings do document the need for better and more comprehensive mental health services and care.
Report this comment