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I'm reading about the man in NYC who stabbed four people -- killing three -- today. The NBC News article says "mental health" seven times. The term "mental health" has become so broad that it prevents practical, common-sense discussion and treatment of violent crime.

John Loeber

@johnloeber.com

There's a tremendous amount of literature about empathy for mental health issues: of course, that's fair. Lots of people struggle with depression, and many other issues. However, that is a world apart from what happened today. "Criminal insanity" used to be the word for it.

20/11/24, 7:29 am0 reposts1 like

John Loeber

@johnloeber.com

20 Nov 2024

The broad language conflates the two, and I think that's worse for both populations. It means that violent, criminally insane, drug-addled crimes are not taken seriously enough. And on the other side, it further stigmatizes conventional depression, trauma, etc.

John Loeber

@johnloeber.com

20 Nov 2024

Call things what they are. What happened today is not a "mental health episode". It's not about mental health. I'd bet that it's not episodic. And the very phrase suggests a level of empathy that I don't think anyone should provide to the perpetrator.