"Affordable Therapy" with Faye R. Miller, MSW, LSW ~Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapist
  • Home
  • About
  • For You
  • Contact

To Fear or Not to Fear; It's a Question!

1/8/2018

0 Comments

 
Something about December...the cold, the holidays, and....I was away - - yaay.  I missed writing my December entry.

A friend of mine stated to me recently that when shopping during the Holiday season, she was particularly uncomfortable with some of the people at the train station and on the sidewalks in Center City.  She stated that she didn't feel comfortable in their midst.  Some were talking to themselves, gesticulating, and appeared ungroomed and even unclean.  She told me that she crossed the street, avoided eye contact, and was prepared to run, if necessary. 

My response:  Most people with mental illness are basically harmless and may be targets of violence themselves.  Many, if not most, people who are mentally ill, and quite sick, have never hurt anyone.  

With that said, what about the people who have participated in mass gun violence?  Sad, tragic, vicious attacks perpetrated on innocent men, women and children.  Are these people mentally ill?  It's easy to lump these individuals as mentally ill, and not address the issue of the gun problem, in general.  We are still learning facts about the shooter in Las Vegas who killed 58 people and injured 851 people.   What was his motive, his reasoning?  We may never know.  I don't have all of the facts, and I don't know if his family and/or friends noticed any aberrant behavior prior to the event committed on October 1st, 2017 that would provide clues surrounding that horrendous, heinous act.

But, I can write this.  These horrific acts are the exception. During 1999 - 2015, according to the Nat'l. Center for Health Statistic, there were 198,760 homicides committed by a firearm.  The 2016 American Psychiatric Association has written a report that less than 1% are committed by a person diagnosed with mental illness.

I believe that you/we should always be aware of our surroundings.  Watch people's actions.  If someone is acting in a strange, disruptive way, that doesn't mean they're mentally ill, but you should still be cautious.
And, if you know of someone in your family or circle of friends/acquantances who needs help, don't hesitate to call your County Mental Health Clinic and speak to a Mental Health professional for guidance.


0 Comments

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.