Local experts share insight on violence and mental illness

The Arizona shootings have prompted national discussion on whether there are telltale signs that those who suffer from a mental illness are prone, or even likely, to go on a deadly rampage as did Jared Lee Loughner and whether anything can be done to prevent such tragedies.Although never officially diagnosed, medical experts believe the 22-year-old shooter suffers from “a clear-cut case of schizophrenia.”Schizophrenia, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, affects 1 percent of Americans. It causes hallucinations and delusions that result in an inaccurate perception of reality. Those afflicted with the condition typically begin to show signs of the illness during their late teens or early 20s, as Loughner did.Schizophrenia can be controlled with medication and other forms of treatment.Michael J. Fitzpatrick, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, explained, “Arizona has a broad civil commitment law to require treatment if it is needed; however, the law cannot work if an evaluation is never conducted or mental health services are not available.”While Loughner is an adult, there are laws in place that would have allowed his parents to seek mandatory treatment for him if they had tried to do so.Like Massachusetts, Arizona has a flexible status for involuntary commitment, allowing anyone to apply for a court-ordered mental health evaluation for any person they feel is likely to cause harm due to a mental illness. If upon evaluation the person is found to be potentially dangerous, involuntary treatment may follow.Dr. Linda Jones, assistant dean of counseling and Health Services at Salem State University, points out that it’s quite difficult to have involuntary treatment issued.”Someone’s behavior may be unusual and people may be frightened by it, but that doesn’t mean that there’s anything dangerous about it. There has to be evidence that something is going to happen if the person isn’t hospitalized, which is hard to do,” said Jones. “Sometimes it’s easy to see the warning signs in hindsight, but we’re not very good at predicting who will act out violently. Past behavior is the biggest indicator.”Loughner’s behavior may have been concerning, but he had no history of serious violence that would act as such an indicator.As the President of National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater North Shore, Lisa Rose said family members are often conflicted over how to respond to a loved one’s mental illness.”From a family member’s point of view, we all want what is best for those we love,” Rose said. “Sometimes we grapple with the fine line that runs between their safety and their rights. All too often, many families just don’t know where to turn.”According to Jones, when the person suffering doesn’t see that he or she has a mental illness, the family is often in denial as well.”In our society mental illness is stigmatized, so the family might not want to believe that it is happening,” Jones explained. “When tragedies like this happen, the stigma gets even worse because parents think ‘Gee, if I have to face the fact that my child has an illness, do I also have to think that they may be a crazed killer?'”Jones said statistically, people with mental illnesses are no more violent than the general public. As Jones explained, they’re actually more likely to be the victim than the perpetrator.Even if the family does request help, it is not guaranteed that the mentally ill will receive the intensive treatment needed.”Unfortunately, with budget cuts, hospital closings, and an increase in consumer rights, sometimes there are insurmountable barriers to treatment options; frustrating to say the least.” Rose said.With a court petition, involuntary treatment only promises a hospital stay of up to 10 days, which usually isn’t enough for someone suffering from schizophrenia.”It’s helpful for getting things such as medication started, but you can’t make someone follow up with outpatient treatment,” said Jones, adding t