Citation

Glied SA, Frank RG. Am. J. Public Health 2014; 104(2): e5-6.

Affiliation

Sherry Glied is with the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, New York, NY. Richard G. Frank is with the Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2013.301710

PMID

24328636

Abstract

The debate about addressing mental illness and violence often ignores key facts. Many people experience mental illnesses, so having had a diagnosed illness is not a very specific predictor of violent behavior. This means that many proposed policy approaches, from expanded screening to more institutionalization, are unlikely to be effective. Expanded access to effective treatments, although desirable, will have only modest impacts on violence rates. Most people with mental health problems do not commit violent acts, and most violent acts are not committed by people with diagnosed mental disorders. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print December 12, 2013: e1-e2. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301710).

Language: en