Changing the Narrative that Mental Illness = Criminal
Introduction Often in the news and on social media, we will come across something related to either mental health or even crime. However, not many people stop to think about the possible connection between the two topics. This leads into a few question I have: What could happen to someone and their surroundings if their mental health is left untreated? If untreated, could their chances of encountering the law be increased? How would their behavior in law enforcements eyes be perceived? Let us break this down. Mental Illness ≠ Criminal A large misconception nowadays is that those suffering from mental health issues are often violent to themselves and others. In reality, those suffering from mental health are actually more likely to be victims of crime, rather than offenders like many beleive. The most common mental health issues that are assumed to be most connected with criminal behavior are schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and...