Linda Mayo: We must help those with mental illness; it also protects the rest of us
Catastrophic shootings by individuals with a history of severe mental illness (SMI) and violence. Devin Kelley (First Baptist Church, Texas) and Kevin Neal (Rancho Tehama) purchased guns/ammo even though existing laws should have prevented it.
Most individuals with SMI are not dangerous. They manage their illness. But statistics show SMI are three times more likely to be violent than the general population when substance abuse, a history of violence or non-adherence to medication is involved.
Eight million adults live with schizophrenia or severe bipolar disorder – 3 percent of the US adult population. Half are untreated at any given time. They lack insight into their condition or deny they have a serious illness.
The 3 percent with SMI account for 10 percent of homicides, 20 percent of law enforcement officer fatalities, 29 percent of family homicides, and up to 50 percent of mass killings.
Despite my efforts, my SMI daughters’ illnesses spiraled downward; abetted by a legal system protecting the right to refuse treatment and a mental health system that didn’t provide an adequate hospitalization period to stabilize them.
SMI requires treatment. We must find a balance between protecting their rights and protecting the innocent people who have the misfortune to get in their way.
Linda Mayo, Modesto
This story was originally published November 20, 2017 at 5:32 PM with the headline "Linda Mayo: We must help those with mental illness; it also protects the rest of us."