Presently, 13% of the world’s population suffers from mental illnesses (WHO, 2021). This reality has set forth numerous interventions to address mental illnesses. Although such initiatives are beneficial, mentally challenged people are neglected, discriminated and stigmatized. This paper seeks to review literature examining the myths about violence and the stigma linked to mental illnesses.
According to Kishore, Gupta, Jiloha & Bantman (2011), people hold different convictions regarding the origin and cause of mental illnesses. While a small portion of the population perceived mental illnesses as natural, a more significant percentage pointed out various other causal factors. For instance, most rural residents identified air pollution and curses as the main reasons. Alternatively, a sizeable portion of the urban population (even health professionals) would have no relations of whatever kind with a mentally ill person. These beliefs heavily impact the ways of addressing mental health issues. According to Kishore et al. (2011), only 19% of the population believes that mental illnesses can be addressed through medical interventions. Although this study partly addresses the topic, it does not shed light on myths related to violence and mental illnesses.
Corrigan & Watson (2002) stated that mentally challenged people face stigma on two fronts. Firstly, they encounter public stigma stemming from myths and misinformation. Secondly, they suffer from internalized stigma emerging from accepting their condition. Corrigan & Watson (2002) notes that Western culture plays a significant role in portraying mentally ill people as dangerous, irresponsible, and burdensome. Ultimately, these stereotypes result in the marginalization and stigmatization of mentally ill people. This study brings out the reality that society strengthens public and internalized stigma. In this sense, it recommends further research of the specific social institutions that maintain stigma against mental illness.
Crisp, Gelder, Rix, Rowlands & Metzer (2000) noted that most studies about the stigmatization of mentally ill people in the United Kingdom focused on small sample size. Crisp et al. (2000) selected a sample size of 1737 participants to make a difference and inquired about their perspectives concerning dementia, alcoholism, depression, drug addiction, panic attacks, eating disorders, and schizophrenia. According to Crisp et al. (2000), more than 60% of the participants viewed people with mental disorders as dangerous. Notably, people with schizophrenia, alcoholism, and substance use were deemed more likely to be aggressive, and thus, they have remained isolated. This study proves that even with the knowledge about mental illnesses, stigma remains alive and well.
According to Rayan & Fawaz (2018), the unsettledness experienced in the Middle East is the principal factor behind the increasing mental health issues. From a sample study of 200 respondents from Beirut University, 94.5% suggested supernatural powers as the possible origins of mental illnesses. The misconceptions impact heavily on treatment strategies as most people believe in religious healers and prayer for treatment. Equally, most people underestimate the efficacy of medical approaches in addressing mental illnesses. This study resonates with the topic in that it highlights the myths and misinformation behind mental illnesses. Regardless, it does not reveal whether society views mentally ill people as dangerous.
As Rueve & Welton (2008) point out, lack of proper research and media sensationalism has strengthened the link between violence and mental illnesses in the United States. Such a scenario has created continuous stigma and hatred towards mentally ill people. Sometimes, mentally ill people are belligerent. However, only a tiny portion of mentally ill people exhibit these characteristics. Regardless, there exists rampant public stigma and misconceptions about mentally ill people. Stuart (2003) explores the link between violence and mental illnesses in three distinct dimensions. Firstly, he inquires whether mentally ill people are violent as often depicted. Secondly, Stuart (2003) interrogates if mentally people have a higher risk of instigating violence. Lastly, he examines whether the public is at risk of violence perpetrated by mentally ill people. According to the findings, mentally ill people only exhibit negligible patterns of violence. Alternatively, substance abuse accounted for more violence in the communities than mental illnesses. This study addresses the topic by examining the relationship between violence and mental health issues.
Varshney et al. (2016) noted that mentally ill patients exhibit varying degrees of violence according to the severity of their conditions. Even so, violence associated with mental illness is only a small percentage compared with the incidences of violence within the general population. On the contrary, mentally challenged people are victimized due to their vulnerability. Research has done little in debunking the myths linking mental illnesses with dangerousness. This study addresses a popular misconception about mentally ill people. However, it rarely mentions the mythical origins and causes of mental illnesses.
According to Thornicroft (2020), people with psychological disorders are often the victims of violence. Even so, patients experiencing severe symptoms are more violent or aggressive than the general population. Combined with substance use, mentally ill patients pose a public safety threat. Nevertheless, research indicates that violence relating to mental illnesses is only a tiny portion of the total violent acts committed in Wales and England. Although it adopts a narrow focus, this study addresses violence and mental illnesses.
The National Institute of Mental Illness recognizes the rampant myths and misinformation about mental illnesses (Ross, 2019). Firstly, mental illness is perceived as craziness rather than a normal human condition. Also, dangerousness and violence are excessively linked to mental health issues while the connection is negligible in real life. Other myths disapprove of psychiatric interventions, while some assert that a particular section of people is more likely to suffer from mental illnesses. These misconceptions promote stigma and hinder treatment. Everyone should be involved in debunking these myths (Ross, 2019).
Arguably, myths concerning mental illnesses have existed throughout history (Hinton, n.d). Most of these depict mentally ill people as outlaws and threaten public safety. In the 1970s, scientists in the U.S established a link between mental illnesses and violence. Such precedence sets forth stigma and marginalization of mentally ill people even in present times. Apart from the existing myths, several other misleading convictions about mental health issues exist. These include the notions that mental illnesses are uncommon and a sign of weakness. Alternatively, these myths depict mentally ill people as unproductive and lacking willpower. In reality, over 400 million people suffer from mental illnesses (Newman, 2020). A large portion of this population is productive, and hence, mental illnesses are more of vulnerabilities than weaknesses. Although this study debunks several myths, it does not focus on violence.
This paper reviewed literature examining various myths, violence, and stigma linked to mental illnesses. Several aspects emerge in this review. Firstly, there are varied interpretations concerning psychological disorders. Secondly, violence and dangerousness are the most significant myths linked to mental illnesses. Thirdly, research rarely addresses victimization and substance use as possible risk factors for violence. Lastly, there is still much stigma against mentally ill people in contemporary society.
Reference
Corrigan, P. W., & Watson, A. C. (2002). Understanding the impact of stigma on people with mental illness. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 1(1), 16–20.
Crisp, A. H., Gelder, M. G., Rix, S., Meltzer, H. I., & Rowlands, O. J. (2000). Stigmatisation of People With Mental Illnesses. The British journal of psychiatry: the journal of mental science, 177, 4-7.
Hinton, J. Violence and Mental Illness: The Real Story.
Kishore, J., Gupta, A., Jiloha, R. C., & Bantman, P. (2011). Myths, beliefs and perceptions about mental disorders and health-seeking behavior in Delhi, India. Indian journal of psychiatry, 53(4), 324–329. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.91906s
WHO. 2021. Mental health. [online] Available at: <https://www.who.int/westernpacific/health-topics/mental-health> [Accessed 27 April 2021].
Newman, T. (2020). 11 myths about mental health. Retrieved 27 April 2021, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/medical-myths-mental-health-misconceptions
Rayan, A., & Fawaz, M. (2018). Cultural misconceptions and public stigma against mental illness among Lebanese university students. Perspectives in psychiatric care, 54(2), 258-265.
Ross, S. (2019). Six Myths and Facts about Mental Illness | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved 27 April 2021, from https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/October-2019/Six-Myths-and-Facts-about-Mental-Illness
Rueve, M. E., & Welton, R. S. (2008). Violence and mental illness. Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township)), 5(5), 34–48.
Stuart H. (2003). Violence and mental illness: an overview. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric association (WPA), 2(2), 121–124.s
Thornicroft, G. (2020). People with severe mental illness as the perpetrators and victims of violence: time for a new public health approach. The Lancet Public Health, 5(2), e72-e73.
Varshney, M., Mahapatra, A., Krishnan, V., Gupta, R., & Deb, K. S. (2016). Violence and mental illness: what is the true story?. J Epidemiol Community Health, 70(3), 223-225.
