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Mental Health and gun violence
I wanted to post about mental health and gun violence because there isn’t always a direct relationship between the two yet many assume this to be the case. It’s natural to look for a reason when someone shoots another. Why did they do this? We want to understand. It is too easy though to jump to the conclusion that it is solely due to mental health reasons if it turns out that there was any history of therapy or anti depressants and this thinking is erroneous. Overwhelming evidence and research does not support this incorrect assumption.
I have worked with criminals over many years, some with mental health issues, others without and I can confirm that there is never ONE reason why someone snaps and kills others. Never. When you look into it, there are a number of reasons that come together. It could be a number of stressors or current triggers along with a recent bereavement or an event that has upset the individual or it could be that they started out in life disadvantaged by a loveless childhood. It is a catalogue of events that end in tragedy and there are often many warning signs along the way.
It is foolish and wrong to make an instant and direct connection between mental health and gun violence. It creates a barrier between the general public and people with mental health issues. Many with depression and anxiety do NOT go on to harm others. In fact, they are far more likely to…