There was another one today. No wonder schizophrenia has a bad stigma.
Previously I would have practically boasted about having schizophrenia. But these days I keep it really quiet.
How do you react when you hear about schizophrenics committing crimes on the news?
No different than other people comitting crimes.
It’s like a punch in the gut. It’s why I don’t tell anyone. I keep it to myself. Even most of my family doesn’t know
Yeah, it’s like a punch in the gut for me too now. Good way of describing it.
We’re also the scapegoat every time an mentally well individual shoots someone.
People are like no sane person would shoot someone. Really? Oh my sweet summer child.
I feel it’s scarier if someone isn’t mentally ill and commits violent crimes while knowing they are doing so.
I think everyone who commits violent crimes is mentally ill in some way. So they’re all mentally ill, whether depraved or bipolar or schizophrenic etc.
Fair, it’s possible. I don’t get violent ever. But maybe in some situation or development as a kid they could end up that way.
I think the stigma stems from biased media portrayal and ignorance of the illness, which has created a systemic belief that all people with schizophrenia are dangerous. This leads to societal confirmation bias.
What do we have to do to be accepted by society? Commit no crime? Why are we being held to a higher standard than other groups of people?
I think schools can do a better job of accurately teaching students about schizophrenia. Also, large companies should be limited as to how much media they own. We need diversity in the media, showing both the good and the bad, not just sensationalism that puts profit over truth.
People without mental illnesses get violent for various reasons. You can’t assume the entire military is mentally ill for example.
The civil war comes to mind also
I agree that we get a bad rap sometimes, but sorry guys. The truth is the truth. Schizophrenics sometime lash out out of confusion. Its not that they are any more violent than anyone else…..but if you falsely believe you are being persecuted and harrassed or threatened in some way, as many sz do, you are more likely to lash out at your tormentors. Its just a fact.
For example, if you believe that the government is beaming rays into your mind for mind control or reading your mind, dont you think its more likely for you to lash out at government employees who you believe are your tormentors, more than the average person?
Just an example, but its really only common sense.
If you believe you are being tormented and harassed or even your life threatened, the likelihood of you trying to strike back jumps up considerably over the average person.
Hello friends…
The reason I don’t write this days is bc my former friend went nuts,and he follows my Facebook, called me to warn me not to write about him.
He knows I’m member here.The night he called he was erratic and said ”I belong to devil, I’m budhist im 666…”
I’m afraid of him cause he’s been arrested few times and is violent..
Don’t fear, just don’t like idea of being followed.So much of subject.
I always feel like it’s propaganda for the REALLY crazy people. Because they’re not like anyone I ever knew of, who had it.
Let’s look at the facts:
[While some studies have suggested an increased risk of violence in individuals with schizophrenia, it’s important to note that the vast majority of people with schizophrenia are not violent.
Research Findings: Studies have shown that individuals with schizophrenia are about 4-6 times more likely to commit violent acts compared to the general population. However, this increased risk is still relatively low, with only about 5-10% of people with schizophrenia engaging in violent behavior.
Factors that may contribute to increased risk include:
Substance abuse
History of violence
Delusions and hallucinations
Lack of treatment adherence
Important Considerations: It’s crucial to remember that schizophrenia is a complex mental illness, and not all individuals with the diagnosis will exhibit violent behavior. Most people with schizophrenia are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. Early intervention, treatment adherence, and support systems can significantly reduce the risk of violence in individuals with schizophrenia.]–AI Overview
So you’re correct, keeping risk factors in mind, that people with schizophrenia are more likely to commit violent acts than people without schizophrenia, but it’s just as important, or even more important, to realize that only 5%-10% of the entire population of people with schizophrenia will engage in violent behavior. Thus if people with schizophrenia were as dangerous as the stigma suggests, I would expect carnage in the streets, and I don’t see that.
While there is an increased risk of violence in some individuals with schizophrenia, and you spoke of that, we have to careful not to paint with a broad brush and stigmatize and generalize the entire population of people with schizophrenia who are not violent.
About the only time schizophrenia is in the news is when it’s connected with a crime. And usually when it’s in the news it’s connected with a violent crime or stalking or some other weird behavior. Is it any surprise that’s all the general public knows about schizophrenia? And when the violent crime is a more extreme and high profile crime done by a schizophrenic then that is what is usually in multiple news and media outlets.
@agent101g , I’m not referring to the military. I’m referring to crimes that are violent against innocent people. One has to have some sort of mental illness or depravity to do that.
There was one guy who escaped from forensic prison and stabbed someone to death. When I read about him it pissed me off. He needed to be locked up and be forced on meds.
I’m open about my schizoaffective disorder. The best way to combat a bad example is to be a good example.
Yeah, but don’t you get stigma from people who don’t care if you’re a good example? All they know is you have schizophrenia and they don’t want to know more, that’s enough for them to treat you bad.
Yes, but that’s the point of me being open about it. The only way to fight stigma is to educate people, to show that I’m not foaming at the mouth, to show that I’m a good person.
I’ve had people treat me horribly after finding out, but I’ve also had people be incredible to me after finding out.
I’ve had jobs try to fire me after I told them, and I’ve had other jobs bend over backwards to work with me when I was struggling.
I’ll never hide anything about me because people are mean. I’ll take getting treated like crap by 1 or 2 out of ten people. The other 8 or 9 are either indifferent or supportive.
This is just my own experience and choice. Have I gotten a lot of heat from buttholes? Sure. I’ve also had wonderful conversations with people who genuinely wanted to know more.