Mental Health and a Propensity of Homicides and Serial Killing

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Mental Health and a Propensity of Homicides and Serial Killing

Homicides and serial killing are among the worst crimes which are tackled by the criminal justice system. As a result, a lot of scholarly research has been directed towards the investigation of homicides and serial killers, within the domain of criminal justice. Most of the research published in criminology journals usually point to transdisciplinary findings which correlate homicides and serial killing to mental health conditions and illnesses. Since mental health falls within the domain of healthcare, it presents a situation whereby the burden felt by the criminal justice system could be alleviated by efforts from the healthcare system (Sturup). This shows that incidents of serial killing and homicides could potentially decline if mental health is prioritized in healthcare agenda setting. However, since the rates of homicides and serial killing have been on a rising trend, it can be attributed to the limited access to mental healthcare services.

Homicide propensity can be correlated to diagnosable mental health conditions. That is, the mentally healthy have less likelihood to commit homicide or serial killing compared to those afflicted with psychosis or sociopathy. If one does not have an appropriate treatment plan in place, and there are also other stressors present in one’s life (especially family-related), then one’s likelihood of committing homicide increases dramatically (Skeem et al.). Based on data collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, it has been determined that up to two-thirds of those incarcerated for homicide had some diagnosable mental condition when the crime was committed (Sturup). This includes all types of mental illnesses, from psychotic disorders to sociopathy. What is striking about this data is not so much the correlation between mental health and future homicidal behavior, but in many cases one can see the genesis of homicides. Most homicides will start as a psychopathic-fueled urge that builds over time, eventually becoming overwhelming and leading to action. The urge can be triggered by a stressor, particularly when it is associated with some past trauma or an unresolved conflict or resentment.

While highlighting the correlation between mental health conditions and the propensity of being involved in homicides and serial killing, it is important to acknowledge the influence of additional mitigating factors. For example, whereas the rise in cases of homicides and serial killing can be attributed to mental health conditions, other mitigating factors include gun laws and regulations also affect rates of homicides and serial killing. In locations where ownership of firearms is widespread, there tends to be high rates of homicides and serial killing (Fox and Fridel). However, the relationship between possession of firearms and a propensity to commit homicides or serial killing is not as strong as the correlation between homicides and mental health.

The criminal justice system has not followed a strategy focused on mental health services. Specific emphasis on targeting mental health services has not been done by the various key players in the criminal justice system. One main reason for the inadequate efforts is that resources are limited and focused attention would either be given to other areas or on other high priority initiatives (Freudenberg and Heller). In cases where governmental decisions are based on private sector interests, the medical system could prioritize medical insurance or prescription drugs instead of mental health services. Therefore, law enforcement agencies and criminal justice systems should have more involvement in healthcare policies to ensure that proper medical care is provided to individuals with mental health issues.

To address this issue, there are certain strategies which could be put in place to decrease the crime rate. One of them is by raising the priority given to mental health in healthcare policymaking. This would also lead to improvement on the accessibility of mental health services, especially for those who face financial constraints. In order for this strategy to work, there is a need for researchers and policymakers to come up with policies which facilitate the broader access of health services. This can include making sure that mental healthcare practitioners are sufficient in number so as not to hinder the delivery of mental healthcare services particularly in rural areas (Sarteschi). In addition, hospitals and health centers should work harmoniously together to facilitate the delivery of mental healthcare services.

Whereas lack of access to mental healthcare is problematic to the whole society, there are populations which are affected more. And some of these groups are vulnerable to negative effects of lack of access to mental healthcare services. For example, people living in poverty or rural areas. People living in poverty are at a higher risk of experiencing mental disorders as they are exposed to higher risks of stressors such as life stressors (e.g. financial difficulties, divorce, abuse), and chronic illness (e.g. diabetes, osteoporosis). At the same time, the chance of having access to healthcare is lower compared to those who live in better off circumstances and can pay for medical services necessary for treating their mental illnesses (Skeem et al.). Health insurance premiums may be expensive for them and thus it is harder for them to seek treatment.

Also, due to financial difficulties, people living in poverty are less likely to receive adequate medical treatment for their mental illness. Many people may be reluctant to accept those in poverty as patients, and thus they may prescribe more drugs but not take time to figure out the underlying reason behind the mental illness and come up with a holistic treatment plan. If a person living in poverty seeks private mental health care, the cost of such services can cause them to fall into deeper debt (Cook et al.). Moreover, they may avoid seeking health care due to fear of stigma as many believe that there is no hope for them. Thus many stay with their mental disorder un-diagnosed and untreated.

People living in rural areas are also at a higher risk of mental disorders due to isolation and limited resources to seek medical treatment. When there is little social support, the likelihood of depression is greater. Moreover, there are more obstacles in seeking mental health care services as they may have to travel long distances to reach a clinic that offers mental health care services (Cook et al.). Additionally, there may be fewer clinics which offer mental health care services. Additionally, those who live in rural areas may be reluctant to seek help due to fear of stigma and other factors mentioned above.

Mental healthcare services are hard to come by in many parts of the world. In the developed world, it’s a little easier to get help when you need it. But there is still a long way to go before mental health matters anywhere near as much as physical health does. However, there are many things that can be done to improve mental healthcare access. The first step is to make mental healthcare more widespread and accepted (Sugie and Turney). This could be done by publicizing the issue more and encouraging people to seek help sooner.

Another thing that needs to happen is that families need to be able to recognize the signs of mental health issues, rather than assuming it’s just youthful rebellion or "just stress" and doing nothing about it. If mental health problems are recognized early, then there may be a chance to treat them. This is an example of a proactive measure which emphasizes prevention. Mental problems are just as treatable and preventable as physical issues (Sugie and Turney). But if there is, again, the common attitude that all mental health problems are ‘just stress’ or ‘youthful rebellion’, then people will assume they don’t need to seek help, and the problem will only get worse, potentially resulting in cases of homicide and serial killing.

Another step in making mental healthcare more widely available is to make people more aware of it–not just the general public, but doctors too. Making them aware can be done through publicizing it and also by government regulation. Mental healthcare needs to be considered a necessary part of any decent standard of living or quality of life. It needs to be considered as important as physical health care. Such prioritization will even lead to the setting aside of adequate funds to finance mental health programs.

The criminal justice system, therefore, has an important role to play when it comes to proactively addressing the problem of rising cases of homicides from a healthcare perspective. Criminal justice agencies need to provide access to basic mental healthcare for first-time offenders and keep them engaged with their providers so that underlying mental health conditions can be detected before it escalates (Culhane et al.). They also need to work closely with the caregivers and clinicians who treat people with a serious mental illness to ensure that these patients receive the help they need, whether in or out of prison (Skeem et al.). This will not only promote stability for these individuals but will also lead to falls in cases of homicides, serial killings, and other crimes related to mental health uncertainties.

Criminal justice agencies must also be able to identify mentally ill individuals who are in danger of harming themselves or others, and provide an environment where they can receive the help that they need. As mental illness is often a generational thing, this means placing at-risk individuals in facilities that have been designated as high security. Proper measures must be put in place to prevent staff members from getting access to these individuals’ medical records (Skeem et al.). This will ensure that the people with a severe mental illness who may pose a danger to themselves and others are continually monitored while they receive healthcare.

Lastly, criminal justice agencies must encourage local government officials to work on developing programs that proactively address mental health issues such as poverty, unemployment, and drug abuse (Freudenberg and Heller). These conditions may be the underlying reasons for the rise in cases of homicides and serial killing in many impoverished communities. Programs like these will allow community leaders to identify individuals who are at a risk of committing criminal offenses and provide them with the help they need to lead stable lives.

Works Cited

Cook, Benjamin Lê, et al. “A Review of Mental Health and Mental Health Care Disparities Research: 2011-2014.” Medical Care Research and Review, vol. 76, no. 6, June 2018, pp. 683–710, https://doi.org/10.1177/1077558718780592.

Culhane, Scott E., et al. “Serial Homicide Perpetrators’ Self-Reported Psychopathy and Criminal Thinking.” Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, vol. 34, no. 1, Nov. 2017, pp. 1–13, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-017-9245-x.

Fox, James Alan, and Emma E. Fridel. “The Tenuous Connections Involving Mass Shootings, Mental Illness, and Gun Laws.” Violence and Gender, vol. 3, no. 1, Mar. 2016, pp. 14–19, https://doi.org/10.1089/vio.2015.0054.

Freudenberg, Nicholas, and Daliah Heller. “A Review of Opportunities to Improve the Health of People Involved in the Criminal Justice System in the United States.” Annual Review of Public Health, vol. 37, no. 1, Mar. 2016, pp. 313–33, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032315-021420.

Sarteschi, Christine M. Mass and Serial Murder in America. Springer, 2016.

Skeem, Jennifer L., et al. “Applicability of the Risk-Need-Responsivity Model to Persons with Mental Illness Involved in the Criminal Justice System.” Psychiatric Services, vol. 66, no. 9, Sept. 2015, pp. 916–22, https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201400448.

Sturup, Joakim. “Comparing Serial Homicides to Single Homicides: A Study of Prevalence, Offender, and Offence Characteristics in Sweden.” Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, vol. 15, no. 2, Mar. 2018, pp. 75–89, https://doi.org/10.1002/jip.1500.

Sugie, Naomi F., and Kristin Turney. “Beyond Incarceration: Criminal Justice Contact and Mental Health.” American Sociological Review, vol. 82, no. 4, July 2017, pp. 719–43, https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122417713188.