Rachel Palicte’s Post

The National Council Medical Director Institute's important report on something about which we are all concerned: Mass Violence in the United States. In the release, they stated "Mass violence is a serious and growing public health concern in the U.S. Events of mass violence are so terrifying and traumatic that communities demand an immediate explanation. After such tragedies, community leaders, politicians and media may invoke mental illness as the reason for mass violence, a narrative that resonates with the widespread public belief that people with mental illness pose a danger to others.  Most mass violence perpetrators do not have a major psychiatric disorder and the overwhelming majority of people with diagnosable mental illnesses are not violent toward others.  Lumping all mental illness together, and then assuming that acts that seem incomprehensible to the average person are due to mental illness, results in millions of harmless, nonviolent people recovering from treatable mental health conditions being subjected to stigma, rejection, discrimination and even unwarranted legal restrictions and social control. " Don't just lump all people with mental illness as violent. They are more likely to be the victims of violence.

More needs to be done to address mass violence in the U.S. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing Medical Director Institute just published a timely paper that challenges common misconceptions about the relationship between mental illness and mass violence and provides a broad range of recommendations that can help prevent mass violence incidents and better support people who are struggling. The key takeaways:   ->Most mass violence perpetrators do not have a major psychiatric disorder.   ->The overwhelming majority of people with diagnosable mental illnesses are not violent toward others.  ->Interventions known to be effective in understanding and preventing mass violence have not yet been widely adopted.   -> Mass violence is a community-wide problem that cannot be solved by any one organization or system alone. We all have a role to play in addressing mass violence.  Download the full paper to learn more: https://bit.ly/3Xgx8WL

Also today there was a new Mental Health Bill Key changes introduced include: Statutory Care and Treatment Plans Each patient will have legally required, individualized care and treatment plans. These will outline what is needed for their discharge, making care more personalized and focused on recovery. Right to Choose a Nominated Person Patients will be given the right to choose who represents their interests, rather than automatically defaulting to their nearest relative. This change allows greater autonomy in who has a say in their care. Improved Access to Advocacy Patients who are detained under the Mental Health Act will have enhanced access to advocacy services to better support their interests and ensure their voices are heard. Ending the Use of Police and Prison Cells The Bill will prohibit the use of police and prison cells for people experiencing a mental health crisis. Patients will instead be placed in suitable healthcare facilities designed to meet their needs. More Involvement for Families and Carers The role of families and carers will be strengthened, requiring clinicians to consult with individuals close to the patient when making decisions about care. This is to ensure the patient’s wishes and safety are better considered. Addressing Disparities and Inappropriate Detention The Bill aims to reduce the disproportionate detention rates of Black people, autistic individuals, and those with learning disabilities, recognizing past injustices in how these groups have been treated. Continued Protection for Safety While modernizing the Act, it will still ensure clinicians have the necessary powers to admit and treat people if they pose a risk to themselves or others, maintaining safety as a priority. The original mental health act was in 1983. 'Outdated' is one way of putting it Much has changed in 41 years Read more below 👇 https://lnkd.in/ewe_qMyj

🚨 New Publication Announcement 🚨 I’m excited to share my latest peer-reviewed article with Jillian Peterson, “Exploring the Overlap: Suicidal Thoughts and Homicidal Acts Among Incarcerated Offenders,” now published in Deviant Behavior! This study examines the intersection of suicidality and homicidality through life-history interviews with 18 individuals incarcerated in Minnesota for murder or manslaughter during the pandemic era. It’s a follow up to our recent “Murder in a Time of Crisis” paper. We found that nearly all participants were somewhere on the suicide spectrum BEFORE committing homicide—a novel finding that sheds light on the shared roots of suicidality and violence. Key insights include: • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and mental health issues were nearly universal. • Hopelessness and previous suicide attempts were prevalent among our sample. • The findings highlight the need for comprehensive mental health care and early intervention to address trauma and prevent violent outcomes. The article is free open access—you can read it here: https://lnkd.in/gPua4fSy

Well here it is folks - the long awaited Mental Health Bill, being introduced to Parliament today. On the tin it says, it will: * Increase the frequency of clinical reviews, to better ensure that the treatment patients receive is appropriate * Update the use of Community Treatment Orders, so that they are only used when appropriate and proportionate [having disproportionately been used for black people] * Limit the length of time that people with a learning disability and/or autistic people can be detained under the Act, if they do not have a co-occurring mental disorder that needs hospital treatment and have not committed a criminal offence * End the use of police and prison cells for detaining someone experiencing a mental health crisis instead of getting them access to a facility where they can get the proper support, such as a hospital * Speed up transfers from prison to hospital by limiting the time it can take to transfer prisoners who need treatment in a mental health hospital to a maximum of 28 days Plenty to talk about at our annual Mental Health Conference on 20 March 2025, but in the meantime, what do you think? #weightmanshealth

Mental illness, crime, and systemic failures: lessons from a tragic case The recent case of a homeless man Ramon Rivera, who has schizophrenia and killed three people in New York City, highlights the urgent need for reform at the intersection of mental health, homelessness, and the criminal justice system. Despite being under supervised release after jail, Mr. Rivera lacked the comprehensive care needed to manage his severe condition. Programs like supervised release focus on court compliance but fail to address individual mental health needs. Poor integration between health, housing, and justice systems leave vulnerable individuals without the support necessary to stabilize. To prevent tragedies, we must: 🔹 Improve discharge protocols with personalized follow-up care. 🔹 Expand programs that integrate medication, therapy, and housing. 🔹 Strengthen frameworks for involuntary care when needed. These changes require a coordinated effort across sectors. Mr. Rivera’s story is a painful reminder of the consequences of inaction. Reform is not just about safety, it’s about human dignity, compassion, and care for society’s most vulnerable. --- 🔔 At Objective Recovery, we are dedicated for creating solutions that address addiction holistically, instead of focusing on just one symptom. We have 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀❗️ #mentalhealth #publichealth #justice #systemicreform

🤔 Many people in prison have severe mental health problems, but what is being done to help these individuals resettle when released? ⏳ Researchers from The University of Manchester led a trial of a release model based on "Critical Time Intervention" (CTI - providing a support plan in the lead-up to, and following, release from prison). 🤝 Prison leavers with mental health needs who were supported through CTI were more likely to be in touch with community mental health services 6- and 12-months post release. 🩺 While no magic bullet - as support is also needed within the community and health sectors - CTI could be one route to help reduce reoffending rates and ease pressure on public health services. 👇 Read more in this article by Dr Jane Senior, Professor Jennifer Shaw, and Dr Charlotte Lennox: https://lnkd.in/ejCiqhZ2 #prisonservice #prisonleavers #mentalhealth #publicpolicy #justice

The fatal police shootings of Yong Yang in Los Angeles and Win Rozario in New York — after police were called to provide both with mental health assistance — are devastating, and all of us at Stop AAPI Hate send our deepest sympathy to their families. Their families are speaking out just as we mark National AANHPI Mental Health Day — a tragic reminder that mental health is a priority issue for Asians and Pacific Islanders in the U.S., and our calls for help should be met with support instead of brutal violence. AAPI communities are among the least likely to receive proper mental health care, and may reach out to the police because they don’t know where else to turn. There is an urgent need for public service agencies to provide in-language, culturally responsive, mental health care for people or families in distress, rather than sending in armed police officers who too often put people in even greater danger. As the killings of Yong Yang and Win Rozario heart-wrenchingly show, AAPIs are not immune to police violence. That’s why we must also reject the ongoing overreliance on policing, especially as police violence continues to disproportionately harm communities of color – including Black, Indigenous, Latino/e, Pacific Islander, Arab and Southeast Asian people.

“Nothing excuses what’s happened here. People want answers. There are no easy solutions.” This was my honest response to an incredibly difficult question of what we need to be doing to prevent tragedies like we have seen this week. Violent attacks involving individuals with known criminal histories and mental illness has understandably caused alarm for many people in British Columbia, I am among them. But it’s crucial to address this issue without perpetuating harmful stigmas around mental health. The reality is that most people with mental illness are not violent, but for those experiencing severe, untreated conditions, the outcomes can be tragic. It is unclear whether anything short of the suspect being in secure care could have prevented this weeks’ tragic events, but from a system perspective, experts have been calling for reform for years - ever since the former Riverview Hospital was closed. In media interviews they always take quotes and portions of comments so I wanted to provide my broader thoughts here: ➡️ Expanded Access to Community-Based and Tertiary Level Mental Health Care: Timely and comprehensive care is essential. We need more accessible mental health services, from early intervention to long-term support. This includes secure care facilities for individuals in crisis who need immediate, intensive treatment. ➡️ Stronger Integration Between Health and Justice Systems: Individuals with both mental health conditions and criminal histories continue to fall through the cracks. Better coordination between health services, law enforcement, and the justice system can ensure people get the help they need before issues escalate and reduce the number of repeat offenders. This needs to start while they are held in custody, but also continue upon release. ➡️ Community-based Support and Housing: Stable housing and consistent community support are vital for reducing the risks of untreated mental illness. Expanding supportive housing programs with integrated social and clinical services can provide the foundation for long-term recovery and reduce the likelihood of future incidents. #MentalHealth #PublicSafety #CommunityCare #Prevention #CriminalJusticeReform

Does the government truly understand that increasing funding for social programs is crucial to addressing the crisis of people who are homeless, many of whom face both mental health and addiction challenges?   Take, for example, the Children’s Aid Society, which is severely underfunded. This vital program works to protect children from unsafe environments, often stemming from abusive situations or parents struggling with mental health and addiction issues. By supporting these children and their families, we have an opportunity to break the cycle and help these children grow into healthier adults.   We need to provide individuals facing mental health and addiction challenges – often interconnected issues – a clear pathway to recovery. These pathways come through social programs that are, at present, grossly underfunded.   We can continue to discuss solutions to the overdose epidemic and the Fentanyl crisis, and while raising awareness is important, it won’t resolve the root causes. Properly funded social programs will.   Why do we treat people with other life-threatening diseases differently? Why do we regard the people living with mental illness and/or addictions less important than those suffering from other ailments? Why does society rally behind some of these diseases with so much profound support and empathy while often ignoring the humanity sitting on the sidewalks? We need to treat all people suffering with the same compassion, the same willingness to find a cure, the same funding, the same support groups. We need to treat illness period – let’s not decide who is worth fighting for. Let’s fight for all human beings that are suffering.