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Americans increasingly view peers with mental illness as threats
Author(s) -
Sutton Halley
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
disability compliance for higher education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1943-8001
pISSN - 1086-1335
DOI - 10.1002/dhe.30873
Subject(s) - mental illness , prejudice (legal term) , mental health , psychology , perception , psychiatry , scientific evidence , criminology , social psychology , philosophy , epistemology , neuroscience
Due to the prevalence of mass shootings, Americans increasingly view peers with mental illness as violent threats, despite scientific evidence that points to the contrary, according to a paper published in Health Affairs . “Despite solid evidence that people with mental illness are unlikely to be dangerous, such prejudice can lead to support for inappropriately using legal means to force people into treatment,” the author wrote. The paper examined trends in public perceptions of violence among those with mental health concerns, as well as attitudes about coerced treatment.