Why Aren't We Taking about Mental Health?

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Not everyone who has issues acts out in the same way. Some abuse family, employees, or people in the service industry. Others target groups or individuals that they know won’t tell or have anyone to protect them. And some escalate to murder, including mass killings. There is a spectrum, as there is with most things.
 
I think the trouble we’re having is that “most X are Y” doesn’t mean “most Y are X.” So the trouble is, we can point out a lot of things that are common to most shooters, but we run into a problem where a whole lot of other people who are not shooters have that same trait.
 
Is it increased mental illness or something else? We have always had mental illness also. But it seems to be getting worse. It may be more a health access issue than gun control issue:

These studies conclude that anxiety and depression are markedly higher than they were in earlier eras.


Are Mental Health Issues On the Rise?

Why it’s important stories about generational differences look at the research
A new study reveals 8 million Americans have serious psychological distress, and many don’t have health insurance or access to effective treatment.


Mental Illness Is On the Rise in the U.S. for a Frustrating Reason

A new study reveals 8 million Americans have serious psychological distress, and many don’t have health insurance or access to effective treatment.


More Americans suffering from stress, anxiety and depression, study finds

Making things worse, many people who need mental health care can’t get it, experts say


I posted this in a gun thread but it belongs better here.

Is Mental Health Declining in the U.S.?

Despite more people taking medications, progress against mental illness seems to have stalled


The State of Mental Health in America

Mental Health Facts, Stats, and Data Mental Health America is committed to promoting mental health as a critical part of overall wellness. We advocate for prevention services for all, early identification and intervention for those at risk,…
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I wonder why some people selectively abuse one person. Like can a man have many girlfriends throughout his life but choose to only abuse a few? Why did he choose to abuse them?
 
The mentally ill are usually the first scapegoat for anything, thanks to the largely unchallenged stigma and destructive myths regarding the mentally ill that abound.

Most severely mentally ill people are more likely to be victims of violent crime than perpetrators of it, and are less likely than those without severe mental illness to commit violent crimes.

The definition of “mental illness” has been expanded so as to include a large segment of the population that don’t suffer from severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, etc. Now, if someone suffers from anxiety for a while, they’re considered to be mentally ill. Same with depression, and even people who simply have bad personalities are labelled as mentally ill by the psychiatric establishment, and the diagnostic books are ever increasing in size, and the definitions, names, and particulars of “mental illnesses” are constantly changing. Even sexual perversions are considered a form of mental illness, which means that if a pervert can prove to his shrink that his vice is disrupting his life enough, he can get social benefits if so desired, and not have to work.

Meanwhile, those who suffer from genuine mental illness are left behind by the system for the most part (particularly the poor, and the two go hand in hand) while being blamed for the out of control gun violence in America, because scapegoating people without a voice is easier than helping them, firstly, and second, because we all know that so long as the NRA more or less owns the Republican party, there aren’t going to be any real efforts made to address gun violence. As usual, it’s down to money and ignorance.
 
I’m not sure it’s just that. I think modern society doesn’t like the concept of evil. It’s easier to blame mental illness because it shields people from having to confront that people just choose to do wrong.

There’s a quote from Chesterton’s Father Brown series. I don’t remember the exact quote, but the titular priest explains that he can find murderers in part because he knows we can all reach inside us and find that part of ourselves.

(I do have to say though, I wonder if you’re familiar with depression. I know I’ve experienced it getting bad enough that getting up, bathing, dressing, and fixing food was all if not more than all of my abilities for the day. As far as mental illness, it was definitely something crippling.)
 
I agree with your statements about modern society rejecting the concept of evil (except when it’s convenient for them).

I don’t know which quote you are thinking of, but yes, I believe we all have it in us to be killers under the right circumstances and I’ve seen it in myself. I heard a priest say once that if God’s grace didn’t prevent us, we would all of us commit every sin and all of the worst ones especially. So I guess we’re all capable of or at least have the potential to do extremely evil things, were it not given us by God not to do so. Kind of humbling, right?

As to depression, I’m more than familiar with it and suffer from more than one mental illness myself. My mother also suffers from an even more severe mental illness and other comorbid illnesses that go along with it. I also have a young brother who in addition to suffering from a form of autism, also suffers from an ever-changing list of psychiatric disorders, and who has suffered more from the educational, psychiatric, and other relevant systems more than the actually disorders themselves. I’m thoroughly familiar with mental illness, unfortunately. I certainly was NOT intending to diminish or dismiss the condition you suffer(ed) from whatsoever, so if it came across that way, I truly and sincerely apologize.
 
Fair enough! And I have some harsh words for the psychiatric system after being stereotyped as potentially dangerous. I was a weird kid, but I wasn’t going to hurt anyone. Meanwhile of course they were ignoring the bit where I reported sexual assault and threats of violence from a fellow student (which had a lot to do with the symptoms I was showing, surprise!).
 
I’m really sorry to hear that. I don’t know if you’re male or female or that it matters, but when I was a young (13-14 year-old) high school student I and many other girls (literally dozens) were sexually harassed by two teachers in particular and when we went to report them, both individually and together, we were told by the female vice principal that if we tried to continue to make these reports (which she illegally refused to make out) that we would be suspended “or worse”, because “they’re good men”. Ugh. God knows what happened, and their fates are in His hands. Again, I’m really sorry that happened to you. I wish I could say something more comforting and helpful, DarkLight. May God bless you.
 
It’s been time. I’ve managed to recollect myself - although I still don’t trust mental health people much. But it makes the point that ignoring actual reports of violent behavior is unfortunately a thing that happens.
 
I disagree that people that commit mass murders are mentally ill. They are simply evil.
 
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The ACLU will not allow anyone who has demonstrated evil or mentally ill violent behavior from being “restrained” in any way.

Sowing CHAOS is the mission goal of the ACLU and that is what they teach and preach.
 
One, this is plain false, there are in fact laws that allow the criminally insane to be restrained.

Two, the problem is such restraint has historically been abused against those who are merely seen as “problematic”. And the stereotypes are still there. I’ve definitely experienced. College kid with mental illness + a tendency for dressing in all black and liking bats = obviously must be dangerous. It is, I think, a good thing that the law prevents that from being a sufficient reason to be deemed dangerous to others.

If you like C.S. Lewis, I would read the third book of his sci-fi series and some of his discussion on criminality and mental illness for why there are good reasons to avoid overreach.
 
kew_65 said:
I disagree that people that commit mass murders are mentally ill. They are simply evil.
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I think the reasons are varied for each case, which is part of what makes it difficult to talk about. I can imagine that mental illness does play a large role with some of the mass shootings. But then some are doing it out of misdirected zeal for their Islamic faith. Others have simply let their conscience die. For many, the real cause is somewhat of a mystery.
 
The only reason mental health has suddenly become such a hot topic is it deflects the issue away from gun control…you only have to listen to DT after the church massacre…that we have a mental health problem in this country…well…other countries with tight gun control have mental health problems also
 
I agree with all of what you said.However another issue is getting those in need of mental health therapy to actually comply.
 
Peebo said:
The only reason mental health has suddenly become such a hot topic is it deflects the issue away from gun control…
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It doesn’t matter why it’s become an issue. The bottom line is we have a lot of mentally ill people on the streets or in their families’ homes not getting the help they need, and they are at risk themselves and are sometimes putting their families or community members at risk because of this.
 
kew_65 said:
I disagree that people that commit mass murders are mentally ill. They are simply evil.
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I think it is fair to say,that yes all of these acts are pure evil,it has also been noted that many of these individuals ,maybe not all ,were dealing with serious mental health issues as well
 
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