Regarding the article, “Lynnwood man accused of injuring 3 in sword attack”: It is mentioned that Ayling told officers that he “is bipolar and was suicidal…” While it may be true that Ayling told this to officers, is his bipolar disorder relevant to his sensational crime? It may be relevant, and it may not be — the article doesn’t say. If more information was given about his condition and how that led to the shocking assault, it would bear mention in the article, but as it now stands it only serves to further heighten the public’s misplaced fear of the mentally ill.[ii]
A person affected by mental illness is much more likely to be a victim of violence than to perpetrate it[i], and only a small minority of violent people are mentally ill. Despite this, the association of mental illness with violence continues which increases stigmatization of the mentally ill. If Ayling’s bipolar disorder directly contributed to the crime, report on how it did — if it did not, it shouldn’t be included.
Sources:
[i] DSHS. (2014). Mentally Ill More Often Victims Of Violence Than Perpetrators: Study.
www.healthfinder.gov/News/Article.aspx?id=685229
[ii] American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Fact Sheet: Violence and Mental Illness. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Luke Carson
Student of medicine and public health at University of Washington
Seattle
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