How has the media affected public perception of mental disorder and violence? Include information on the history and prevalence of mental disorder and violence

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• The great majority of mentally disordered individuals are not dangerous.
• The great majority of mentally disordered individuals do not commit crime.
• The crimes of the mentally disordered are usually misdemeanors or nonviolent felonies (e.g., trespassing, larceny, disturbing the peace, simple assault).
• A small percentage of the seriously mentally ill population is at risk of committing violent crime, but predicting who will is extremely difficult.
• Persons with certain serious, CURRENTmental disorders (e.g., on the schizophrenia spectrum) with a history of violent behavior are most at risk for future violence.
• Both the news media and the entertainment media portray persons with mental illness as dangerous.
• Although there are noteworthy exceptions, the most serious violent crimes are not committed by the mentally disordered, but entertainment media in particular sensationalize these crimes by associating them with mental illness.
• The news media rarely provide stories that emphasizes the NON-dangerousness of the great majority of mentally ill individuals.