The article “‘I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother’: A Mom’s Perspective On The Mental Illness Conversation In America” written by Liza Long is an article citing the importance of discussing a subject largely avoided by people: mental illness. Long’s article, unlike the article “United States: Gun Ownership and the Supreme Court,” is written using the device of bias. Long’s stance on the much-needed discussion of mental illness is tainted somewhat by her use of negative personal experiences with mentally ill people. Due to the voice Long uses to persuade others that this is, in fact, a topic that needs to be discussed it can be seen that she is advocating for this discussion under the illusion that mentally ill people are dangerous.…
We tend to hear a lot in the media that most violence comes from people with mental illness, but do we really know if this is the truth? As Anaya states in her essay “Mental Illness on Television” that “the media tend to always isolate or not mention people with a disability or show that they are not normal which is wrong” (54). This relates to Nancy Mairs essay “Disability” were she talks about physical disability and how the media doesn’t show it as a normal feature of life, but since she wrote it thirty years ago there has been progress in the media. On the other hand Anaya‘s main point is that the media should show mental illness as a feature of normal life as well not a threat which I strongly agree with.…
Over the years, mentally ill persons, especially the youths, have been the subject of harsh treatment by the society. Such is the case given they portrayal as criminals that need incarceration to rectify their behavior. A depiction of this kind does not reflect the sympathetic character that human beings must exhibit when dealing with the mentally ill. Mental illness is like any other type of medical conditions that requires equal and nonjudgmental treatment and care of sufferers of this fate. In illustration of how the society has failed on this account is a case study of Ashley Smith who undergoes painful experiences until her dying day. She is a young mentally ill Canadian woman whose experiences are unthinkable and inhumane given the obligation…
Mental Health, Crime and Criminal Justice (Winstone, 2016) is a refreshingly candid look at the challenges related to persons with mental illness(es). Through multiple perspectives, the book sheds light on the often overlooked and behind the scene issues that arise when mentally ill individuals commit crime. The book goes beyond the obvious problems individuals with mental illness face by delving into more obscure but important issues, thus giving the reader a deeper understanding of the material covered in each chapter. Every chapter contributes unique insight to the underlying theme of the book in such a way to indirectly prompt the reader to critically think about the relationship between mental health, crime and criminal justice.…
In 2012, tragedy struck when a gunman entered UPMC’s western psychiatric institute and clinic armed with two semiautomatic handguns and began shooting people in the lobby. A hospital therapist was killed and seven other people injured by the gunman, who had a reported history of mental…
In February, 2011, when this writer was beginning to formulate a topic for a thesis, there was a man in the City of Syracuse who was shot by police, but not fatally. Then, again in May of 2011 another man was shot by police, this time fatally (Dowty, 2011). It seemed evident that something had changed in the Syracuse area community, or something needed to change. This writer’s secondary research found programs and policies previously formulated in other areas of the United States that provide necessary knowledge and skill base for law enforcement to effectively assist a vulnerable population who need help to live successfully in the community; but are a potential danger to themselves and the community when services are not provided. One entity that provides extensive support for people with mental illness is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).…
The Canadian public undeniably relies on mass media as its primary source of information. However, when it comes to mental illness, the media tends to skew reality. For better or worse, the media shapes our ideas and ways in which we understand those around us. For those suffering from mental illnesses, the implications of the often negative and inaccurate portrayals of mental health issues are significant. Inaccurate information in the media about mental illness, even if the portrayal of an individual is positive, results in misunderstandings that can have considerable and very real consequences. For example, inaccurate depictions of bipolar disorder can lead to false beliefs, confusion, conflict, and a delay in receiving treatment. Unlike physical ailments, many mental illnesses are associated with stigma. Whether it is self-directed or from society, dealing with this “shame” can be debilitating and interfere with daily living. The mentally ill continue to receive negative attention, largely due to fear and prejudice. People who suffer from mental illness are often pushed to the fringes of, or are directly excluded from, society (Baun, 2009). 90210's portrayal of adult behaviour in response to Silver's cry for help is consistent with the Special Report on CBC – “Off Course…
The family is the category that occurred early in the history of mankind; is an important social institution, related to the operation of the whole society and each individual. In view of the system, a change that institutions will lead to change the system and vice versa, the institutions around the family in the social system in general (such as economics, law, culture...) change also causes varying family. American family is not an exception to this rule.…
Davis argues that it is unfashionable to imply that mentally ill people are disproportionately involved in criminal or violent acts” (174). He also points out that the media, “by selective reporting,” have exaggerated the crime rates of mentally ill people and therefore have contributed to the perception of this group as a threat to society, “further maligning an already stigmatized group” (174). The author explains that methodological problems in research have shaped the widespread belief that mentally ill people are more dangerous. His findings are that “psychiatric patients tended to get arrested at a higher rate”; factors associated with offenses by mentally ill people were the same as those associated with offenses by members of the general public”; and that “the problems experienced were likely a function of the system, with less accessible community resources contributing to a diversion of some mentally ill patients into the criminal justice system.” Based on his research, David concluded that the answer to whether mentally ill people are more dangerous is uncertain. He expanded, saying that “If one assumes that psychiatric patients are being arrested at higher rates, one cannot simplistically infer that psychiatric patients constitute a menace to…
The idea of violence and mental illness in the news can affect society in many different ways. News articles that focus on mental illness is intended to change society’s opinion on gun control to make them believe it is the person’s fault for the gun violence. Instead of finding fault in the guns itself, people want to blame mental illnesses for causing all the problems in the world, “conservative commentator Anne Coulter provocatively proclaimed ‘guns don’t kill people- the mentally ill do”’ (Metzl and McLeish). Blame is being put on people with mental illnesses and no one is blaming the actually weapons. In reality the blame should be put on both the guns and person. The people who are committing these crimes are not sane people, and they have many problems. They can be extremely dangerous to the world, but so are guns. People have discovered that “60% of perpetrators of mass shootings in the Unites States since 1970 displayed symptoms including acute paranoia, delusions, depression, before committing a crime” (Metzl and McLeish). How many of this mass shootings are publicized in the media? The answer is that more than…
This can be leveled out into two main ideas of mental illness involving substance abuse, and untreated mentally ill. It is shown through observation of gun related crimes that there is a very low correlation between the diagnosed mentally ill and violence. The problem is “a large body of studies found that co-occurring psychiatric disorders and substance abuse are associated with violence” (Rosenberg 2). Repeating that it is not the mentally ill we are attacking, but the belief is that you have to be mentally unstable to commit a crime with this level of violence. Not every mentally ill person is likely to commit such a crime. “Study findings suggest that subgroups of persons with severe or untreated mental illness might be at increased risk for violence during periods surrounding psychotic episodes or psychiatric hospitalizations” (Metzl 1). After further investigation into the subject one may find that it is the unrecognized, untreated mentally ill that have caused crimes such as the tragedies in Tucson, Arizona; Aurora, Colorado; and Newtown, Connecticut. In these three shootings there was evidence that “mental illness was potentially present in these individuals [the shooters]” (Metzl, MacLeish 1). These findings caused uproar in the government, and the focus is now on “mentally ill individuals, early detection of mental illness during school years, and the interactions of such individuals with physicians and the mental health system as a way to solve gun violence” (Metzl, MacLeish 1). The crisis is how to stop gun violence, and many signs for solutions are leading people to mental health systems. Mental illness needs to begin to be detected before the violence…
Lately in the United States, there have been many concerns that mass killings may be linked to mental health. According to Harold Pollack, high-profile mass shootings are relatively rare, resulting on average in a dozen deaths a year. Pollack also states that mass shootings are quite difficult to prevent. “Yet, as we show, notions of mental illness that emerge in relation to mass shootings frequently reflect larger cultural stereotypes and anxieties about matters such as race/ethnicity, social class, and politics. These issues become obscured when mass shootings come to stand in for all gun crime, and when “mentally ill” ceases to be a medical designation and becomes a sign of violent threat.” (Am J Public Health. 2015;105:240–249. doi:10.2105/ AJPH.2014.302242). In both an Internet article and a journal, the information states that mental illnesses cause gun violence.…
Desmond Tutu once stated, “You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.” This statement cannot be truer with regards to my family. Growing up in a close family is something that I will always cherish and something that both my parents were able to do as well. My nuclear family consists of my dad Rick who is 54, my mom Debbie who is 51, my sister Mary Rose who is 17 and me I am 21. We are a very close family, in fact we lived right across the street from one of my uncles and my grandma on my mom’s side my whole life. My dad’s parents were at the house almost every day and it is something that I will cherish forever. My grandfather on my mom’s side passed away when I was five and the rest of my grandparents passed away last year but I have memories of all them and their efforts made our family very strong and gave us strong ties, cultural heritage and a love that will always stay with my family.…
Stuart, H. (2005). Fighting Stigma and Discrimination is Fighting for Mental Health. Canadian Public Policy, 31, 22-28.…
PORT CONQUITLAM, B.C. – Allan Schoenborn is a familiar face to the Canadian public eye. The man found not criminally responsible for the killing of his three children in April 2008 due to a mental disorder, is requesting to move to Selkirk, Manitoba to be closer to his mother. “My family is in Winnipeg and I was born and raised in Winnipeg. It’s the right place for me”, stated Schoenborn. The crown and his treatment team supporting his idea to move, backing up the “long recovery of mental illness would help with a support system” says one of the jury members; referring to his family in Winnipeg.…