Mental health and political violence

[davidbfpo]

Three articles on the subject today in my email box.

Following the murder of a US tourist in central London last week a curious story in The Guardian:

One way or another, the attacks in Russell Square represent a gap in Britain’s system of public safety – be it in national security, or in how Britain’s under-resourced and severely strained mental health system looks after those who need it most.

(Then almost following a police script) About half of all people feared to be at risk of terrorist sympathies may have mental health or psychological problems, a police study has found. The police study of 500 cases dealt with by Channel, an anti-radicalisation scheme, found that 44% of the individuals involved were assessed as being likely to have vulnerabilities related to mental health or psychological difficulties. A further 15% were assessed as possibly having vulnerabilities but more assessment was needed. In May, Chief Constable Simon Cole, who is in charge of the Prevent programme, which aims to protect people against radicalisation, told the Guardian: “There would appear to be, from the work we have been doing, a link to people who are vulnerable around mental health.”

Link:https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...n-knife-attack


I am puzzled at the reference to a study of Channel, as so far no external review, let alone by academics, has been allowed of the project's work. There are anecdotes that the mentally ill are referred as the CT budget is seen to have more money.


A British academic neuroscientist has written a commentary and two key passages reflecting the debate here are:

Caution must be taken when interpreting the link between extremist violence and mental health. Mental health problems are relatively common (1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem each year) whereas violent extremism is extremely rare.
Whilst there is an increased risk of violence in severe mental health conditions, the vast majority of people struggling with a severe mental illness are non-violent. Similarly, many violent extremists will not have mental health problems. If not handled carefully, the implications of linking extremist violence to mental illness may perpetuate the stigma surrounding mental illness and consequently discourage people with mental health needs to seek help.

Link:https://www.opendemocracy.net/jessica-j-steventon/radical-thinking-can-violent-extremism-be-prevented-by-addressing-mental-health?

The third short piece / letter is by a Belfast-based Consultant Psychiatrist, who takes a contrary stance:

Politicians, the media and others all too often respond to terrorism by lazily and superficially claiming it to be ‘psychotic’, ‘crazy’, ‘insane’, ‘psychopathic’ or (most mindlessly of all) ‘mindless’. Islamic State are disgustingly murderous, but Abu Bakr al Bhagdadi and his activists are not driven by mental illness. It is very worrisome if psychiatrists contribute to this unscientific discourse.

Link:http://pb.rcpsych.org/content/terror...0%99s-politics