What Are the Risk Factors?
Absolutely anyone can be at risk of being violent, whether they have mental health problems or not. Some of the factors include being in unstable relationships, unemployment, exposure to violence or abuse at an early age, previous violence, alcohol and substance misuse, and gender — men are more likely to commit violent crimes than women).
In fact, any of life’s stressful events and ongoing life problems can put a person a risk.
For those experiencing mental health problems, the highest level of risk occurs when that person is misusing drugs and/or alcohol, not undergoing or complying with treatment and is experiencing psychosis or delusions.
If You Are Worried You May Hurt Someone Else
Take immediate action. It’s hard to face the feelings but it’s important to do so, for the sake of others. Contact...
- Your GP
- Your crisis team
- 911 or the emergency number in your area
- A&E and ask for on duty psychiatrist
- Support helplines, or
- Talk to someone you trust
Conclusion
There needs to be more conversation about this issue, as talking triggers change. It's important to question whether what we are fed about mental illness and violence is actually representative of factual information.
One in four of us have mental health problems, and any person in society can commit a violent crime. The most important thing we need to establish is whether the act of violence is solely attributed to the mental illness. It is prevalent from research presented that this is usually not the case as there are too many other variables involved.
I hope others find this article as interesting as I have found researching and writing it.
Support Resources
- The Samaritans – UK helpline number
- Mind.org — excellent UK resource for all mental health issues with help resources
- MentalHealth.org.uk
- Rethink.org — Carers' guide for those supporting people with mental health problems
- Mind.org (Violence and Mental Health Factsheet)
- 1-800-334-HELP – 24-hour crisis hotline in the U.S.A.
- 1-800-273-TALK – 24-hour crisis hotline in the U.S.A.
- Fliss Baker Talks - My blog
