۱- Introduction

۲- Method

۳- Results

۴- Discussion

References

Abstract

Research investigating the link between mental health, crime and violence often rely on populations that are at a high-risk of violent and criminal behaviour, such as prison inmates and psychiatric patients. As a result of this selection bias, the relationship between mental health, criminal and violent behaviour is significantly over-estimated, with mental health being incorrectly linked with violent and criminal behaviours. This study examines the relationship between mental health, violence and crime in a more representative community-based sample. One hundred and twenty-one individuals with and without a mental health disorder reported their involvement in crime and completed an aggression questionnaire. The results revealed that there is no statistically significant difference in terms of violence and crime involvement between individuals with a mental health diagnosis and those without. Moreover, the study did not find any statistically significant associations between specific mental health disorders and specific crime offences. The findings suggest that certain mental health disorders do not strongly contribute to crime violence and involvement. Limitations and implications are discussed in detail.

Introduction

Individuals diagnosed with a mental health disorder are accountable for a fraction of violent offenders (1%) and are responsible for only a small percentage of societal violence and criminal behaviour (5%) (Fazel & Grann, 2006; Taylor, 2008; Varshney, Mahpatra, Krishnan, Gupta & Deb, 2015 Vinkers, de Beurs, Barendregt, Rinne, & Hoek, 2012; Walsh, Buchanan, & Fahy, 2002; Rueve & Welton, 2008). These findings suggest that there is not a clear established link between mental health and violent criminal behaviour, except for psychopathy (; Hart, 1998). Despite this, persistent stereotypes continue to exist which often associates mental health disorders with criminal and violent behaviour; animage that is frequently reinforced through mass media outlets (Angermeyer, Dietrich, Pott, & Matschinger, 2005). Mass media sensationalises violent crimes such as mass shootings that has been committed by an individual with a mental health illness. Their main focus is the mental health aspect, without acknowledging that most violent acts in society are carried out by someone without a mental health illness (Varshney et al., 2015). This consequentially creates, shapes and propagates negative public attitudes, beliefs and misconceptions surrounding mental health disorders and their relationship with crime and violent behaviour (Coverdale, Nairn, & Claasen, 2002). Television characters that have a mental health disorder are frequently portrayed as being more violent in comparison to other characters without a mental health disorder (Diefenbach & West, 2007); with one in four of those television characters portrayed as a murderer. Additionally, Diefenbach and West (2007) found that at least one third of characters with a mental health disorder committed at least one violent crime.