Mental illness seems to be dangerously misunderstood on all scales. While we might not fully comprehend its effect on us, it does impact us all, whether we want it to or not. What this really means is that the lines between mental illness, faults, and responsibilities can be very blurred, leading to major impacts – be it degrading a terrorist attack or remaining in an abusive relationship.
The Line Between Mental Illness and Inexcusable Behavior
We are constantly facing different circumstances and events, some of which may be unfortunate. It might not be our fault that an unpleasant happening occurred, but it is our responsibility to choose how we react to it – or do not. In an example given by Mark Manson in his book, “The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck”, he mentions that, if supposedly you woke up to a baby on your doorstep, it is not your fault that it has been abandoned, but it is your responsibility to choose how you react to the situation, whether that is by calling the authorities or leaving it outside to face whatever fate has in store for it. Just because you did not cause something to happen, it does not rid you of having to respond to it in any way. You will always respond to situations, even if it is by doing seemingly nothing. Whether your response was “good” or “bad”, that depends on morals and personal values. Regardless, you are responsible for what you choose to do.
There is no doubt that living with a mental illness can feel like a draining battle. While mental illness can make it harder to function daily, it does not take away a person’s responsibility from choosing how to react. People with mental illnesses may have distorted thinking patterns, but they do not change a person’s moral values. Mental illness can tempt a person to do many things that can harm themselves or others, be it by shutting everyone out or by manipulating people. However, in the end, the way a person reacts is their own responsibility. It sounds harsher than it is, but what this really means is that mental illness will not turn someone into a racist, xenophobic, sexist, homophobic, or transphobic individual, nor will it turn someone into a manipulative person – these things boil down to the individuals themselves, regardless of an illness.
Mental illness is not an excuse to be manipulative, take advantage of others, or disrespect them. Dealing with a mental illness is tough and requires support that is very much deserved, but mental illness does not account for such behavior. Associating mental illness with such traits only contributes to a stigma where people are thought to be part of a dangerous community that should be avoided.
Mental Illness and Terrorism
It is always “mental health” when the perpetrator is white and always terrorism when they are a Muslim. Studies show how the media portrays both sides as such. The point of this is not racial or ethnic discrimination (even though that is still important), but rather the bias and hypocrisy of a system and its effects on society. A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) states that 57% of terrorist attacks and plots in the United States between 1994 and 2020 were carried out by right-wing extremists. These attacks targeted mainly abortion clinics in 1994 and individuals based on race, religion, or ethnicity in 2014. These attacks were fueled by nothing but hatred, and yet those perpetrators are just portrayed as poor, sweet individuals who have lost their way because of “mental illness”. There are two problems with this. Firstly, mental illness is not to be truly held accountable for such violent crimes as people living with mental illness are not any more violent than a normal person and only 3% to 5% of violent acts can be attributed to a serious mental illness. Secondly, associating mental illness with terrorism only misleads whole populations into perceiving people with mental illness as violent threats, which is, of course, far from the truth. Additionally, a mentally ill individual is still responsible for their actions, as opposed to legally ill individuals who, by definition, have “a mental illness of such a severe nature that a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, cannot manage his/her own affairs, or is subject to uncontrollable impulsive behavior.”