Mental Illness And Violence In The Media

In recent years, people with mental illness and violence have received widespread of news media coverage. Specifically, the aftermath of violent act is often viewed as a gateway of opportunity to support negative attitudes toward people with mental illness. The new media portrayal acts of violence committed by individuals with mental disorders appear to play a critical role in influencing negative perceptions toward individuals with mental illness (McGinty, Webster, & Barry, 2013). When a person commits ruthless acts of violence, speculations about their mental health from the public are never far behind. Research suggests that violent acts can increase mental illness stigma, strengthen stereotypes that people with mental disorders are aggressive

and dangerous (Rosenberg, 2014). It seems natural, without rational thought, that someone who commits violent crime must be mentally ill. News media depictions of violence and people with mental disorders contribute to the public’s negative perceptions toward mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (McGinty et al., 2013).

For the purpose of this article, media sources only include electronic and local Canadian newspapers. This article examines how the media news manipulates the topic of people with mental illness and violence, the public attitudes toward persons with mental illness, and psychiatric nursing implications and interventions involving mental health promotion and mental disorder prevention.

In general, it is easy to assume that violent behavior is connected to mental disorders. If the behavior is ruthlessly violent, like in mass shootings, than the perpetrator must certainly be mentally ill. According to the DSM-5, the definition of mental disorder is a “syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in individual’s cognition, emotion, regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning” (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013, p. 20). Furthermore, mental disorders are associated with “significant distress or disability in social, occupational, or other important activities” (APA, 2013, p. 20). Researches show violence by people with mental illness, like schizophrenia or bipolar

disorder, is uncommon and only accounts for a small percentage of violent acts (Rosenberg, 2014; Metzl, 2015). It is the perception and the stigma the public and media news create the idea that mental illness is associated with violence. In a news article on January 25, 2016 from CBC news, a fifty-three-year-old Calgary man, David McQueen, with mental illness was killed on Sunday January 24, 2016 after a standoff that started when police responded to gun shots fired at a neighborhood (CBC News, 2016). The newspaper article stated that McQueen suffered from a spinal injury after a diving incident at Calgary’s Sikhome Lake; McQueen was not aware of how shallow the man-made lake was. McQueen was quadriplegic after the incident. According to the article, McQueen became isolated and frustrated at the Alberta government over his injury; furthermore, he had written numerous complains about how the health-care system have failed him, and how he had tried to sue the Alberta government over his spinal injury. The article further claimed McQueen to be a “violent one” as he was angry and distrustful of police because he had been mistreated by law enforcement in the past (CBC News, 2016). On January 24, 2015, McQueen had a violent encounter with the police, and was shot and killed following an armed standoff. Before his death, McQueen tried to reach out for help by writing several letters to the constituency office; however, the Canadian system had yet to respond to his frustrations.
Media news often manipulate the topic to gain audience’s interest by using subjects of public concern.

The newspaper article claimed the Calgary shooter, David McQueen, to be “desperate”, and was suffering from “obvious and serious mental illness” (CBC News, 2016). According to McQueen’s son, Justin, McQueen was a loving and dedicated dad, but suffered from depression and was quadriplegic. McQueen was stuck in his wheelchair with no proper home care. The newspaper article claimed McQueen suffered from “obvious, and serious mental illness” due to his paranoid fears of his computer and phone were being monitored by authorities, and his belief that his neighbors were conspiring against him (CBC News, 2016). Two days later, another article released from CBC news was published with an interview with McQueen’s son, Justin, who said McQueen was suffering from depression after his tragic incident. Conversely, the article on January 25, 2016 stated that McQueen was suffering from “obvious and serious mental illness”; however, according to his son, Justin, McQueen was suffering from depression due to his tragic incident. This can lead readers to false beliefs, confusion, and misunderstanding of what mental illness is. The lack of knowledge that the media and the public has on mental illness often results in people diagnosed with mental disorders being stigmatized and discriminated against. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), the majority of people who are

violent do not suffer from mental illness; on the other hand, people with mental illness are more susceptible to be the victims, rather than the perpetrators of violence (CMHA, 2015). The article painted negative depiction of McQueen claiming him to be “angry”, “distrustful of police”, “desperate”, and “suffering from obvious, and serious, mental illness”. The media distorts and deceives the public by using negative terms to associate mental illness with violence and crime.
All too often, people with mental illness often have violent encounters with the police where the interaction can end up in death, as was the case with David McQueen, who was shot and killed by a Calgary police officer. Persons with mental illness are vulnerable and are stigmatized, discriminated, or feared by the public. It is essential for Registered Psychiatric Nurses to act as advocates for persons suffering from mental illness, because they cannot identify their personal problems or unable communicate their needs effectively. A psychiatric nurse needs to advocate by empowering the individual to have a voice when they are weak and vulnerable. Hence, the role of Registered Psychiatric Nurses needs to promote mental health, and mental disorders prevention through community integration to allow for sustained health and well-being. Another nursing implication would be through the channel of education. It is important to educate students and communities on the misconception of mental illness. By educating students and the public on mental disorders and address concerns of mental illness may stop the stigma and discrimination of people with such conditions. Psychiatric nurses need to effectively collaborate with law enforcement authorities like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to promote mental health by coordinating strategies with the healthcare team and community partners to develop public policies, strengthen community action to address mental disorders, and enhance public knowledge and skills that support positive mental health (BC Ministry of Health and Living, 2009). A police officer and a psychiatric nurse can work together to respond to a mentally ill person in crisis. For example, Vancouver has a specialized mental health crisis intervention team known as Vancouver’s Car 87, where a mental health professional and a police officer respond to calls involving persons with mental illness (Canadian Mental Health Associations, 2005). The outcome for David McQueen’s incident may be different if a psychiatric nurse was on site. Furthermore, psychiatric nurses can work together with health authorities and local communities, like schools, community centers, and libraries to deliver public awareness on mental health promotion and mental disorders prevention, including increase in mental health literacy, early recognition of signs and symptoms, and reducing the stigma of mental illness.
In conclusion, it is important for psychiatric nurses to work collaboratively with law enforcement authorities to avoid fatal encounters with people with mental disorders. Psychiatric nurses need to disseminate mental health promotion and mental disorder prevention to the media and the public. Furthermore, psychiatric nurses will need to work with the media to play a role in changing the negative perceptions of persons with mental illness and violence by publishing positive and truthful stories about people living with such conditions. It is significant for the media news to highlight successful stories of mental illness recovery. Furthermore, society needs to continue to strive to reduce and eliminate the stigma of mental illness associated with violence. The media and the public need to be informed of people with mental illness do recover and are not violence in nature, if they are provided with the service and the support needed.