@countessalmirena wrote:
Overwhelmingly awful - I felt especially horrified at the stabbing of the baby, and the news that her mother, also stabbed, has died in hospital.
If this murderer was using drugs in addition to having a mental condition, to me that is an aggravation, not an excuse. At this stage we don’t know… so like everyone else I’m sad, appalled, and wanting to know why this man did what he did.
Hats off to the very brave police officer who acted as necessary to prevent further attacks.
Everyone who has lost a loved one in this senseless brutal attack - we can only imagine the hell of their shock and first sharp grief as they try to process what’s occurred.
A better solution is needed. Anyone whose mental condition is so unstable - stop them categorically from use of illicit drugs; stop giving free passes; treat them adequately; long-term, we need strategies to prevent such issues where they can be prevented (foetal alcohol syndrome is preventable, for instance…)
All the rhetoric in the world, the political phrases, the granting of bail on mental health grounds without any addressing of the real danger and need for immediate protections - all of the blah… how powerless it is.
" and wanting to know why this man did what he did. "
While we will never know why this man did what he did, our completely failed mental health and social services systems ( due to lack of financial resources ) is undoubtably a contributing factor.
* People with psychiatric conditions are rarely diagnosed until adulthood, due to changes in the brain of growing adolescents presenting different symptoms at different ages.
* There is also a reluctance to " brand " a child or adolescent with a significant, permanent psychiatric condition as a youth. This means there is very little help or education available, designed to treat the specific condition until the person reaches adulthood. By then the person is already badly damaged by their own condition and rejection from society meaning they often lose contact with the medical system and may not ever receive a diagnosis or treatment for their condition.
* Many people with psychiatric conditions are rejected by their families, schools and society due to extreme behaviours and end up without the normal basic support mechanisms that most people take for granted. We know this man was estranged from his family.
* People with psychiatric conditions are " known to police " . This means they are regularly targetted for " street stops " or searches and questioning when they are simply walking to the shops or bus stop. If they drive they will be " flagged in the system, stopped and searched, often resulting in their cars ( which they sometimes live in ) being defected etc.
" This can escalate if the person becomes agitated resulting in arrest, the start of criminal records ( resisting arrest ) court appearances and unfortunately all to often " use of excessive force " .............code for police bashings while being arrested or later in the cells. .......Yes it happens regularly to these people .......they dont have the resources to challenge police brutality.
* They also lack the skills to manage their personal affairs and regularly live in unstable, unsafe accommodation or experience homelessness. This also results in minor crime such as shop lifting food etc. Again ingraining interactions with police.
* Due to rejection by mainstream society mentally unstable people are only socially accepted by other very vulnerable / damaged people. These associations entrench issues such as communal alcohol and drug use, violence etc.
* Due to their vulnerable existence and rejection from society people with psychiatric conditions often have to be extremely reactive and aggressive just to survive. Its a very dangerous world they live in. This is particularly so for young woman who regularly face abuse. They often need to be more volatile, aggressive and violent than young men, just to stay safe.
* There appears to be much less research directed towards psychiatric medication and medical intervention than other conditions. The medical system is still using drugs developed in the 1960's and 70's and electric shop therapy to treat common conditions. These often have major side effects meaning vulnerable people simply dont use them, self medicating with illegal street drugs which often have sedative effects such as marijuana.
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