The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and Harvard University estimated that
about 30% of inner-city children are affected by post-traumatic stress
disorder, an illness commonly associated with soldiers who have returned home
from war. Seldom do we view it from genetically
evolved or environmentally influenced (Nature vs. Nurture) perspectives.
In the field of psychology, these
two schools of thought represent a long standing discussion and debate
regarding human development. On one
hand, are those who believe that human beings are fundamentally created to be
the way they are by nature. On the other
hand, are those who believe that our development in a specific situation or
environment, especially during early childhood, is the main thing which
determines the type of personality, social skills, and social problems that we
will evidence throughout our lives. For
most people, it would be a natural inclination to lean towards nature
concerning mental health disorders. While in reality, most mental health
disorders are developed as a result of specific situations and/or environmental
concerns (nurture).
Through the prism of prison I look
around and out into society, gazing at souls moving in a continuum of traumatic
events. Silent screams of torment
blaring a cacophony of “bad acts”. These
so-called statutorily defined “bad acts” do a grave disservice to the Human,
who should, at all times, be treated holistically. There are no moments in life that stand on
their own. Nevertheless, judicially and
statutorily, whole persons are treated as fragments. Thus, creating invisible people. This matter is compounded when a scientific
diagnosis becomes concrete but only a certain segment of society is allowed to
walk on it.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a
diagnostic phrase coined by psychiatrists between 1975-1980, as a mental
disorder brought on by traumatic events that range “outside” of normal human
experiences. Without question, war is
strictly a human experience, and it is our brave men and women who return
war-torn to wear the moniker and walk the road with very little resistance.
Loving husbands and wives come home
to their loved ones only to discover that the warm body lying next to them in
the dark of night or the visual and sound effects of their children playing
violent video games trigger the horrible nightmares of Vietnam, Desert Storm,
or the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. They
also become hyper-vigilant with regard to anything that could be considered an
injustice to themselves or others. Thereby, causing them to react aggressively
and irrationally, be it emotionally, verbally, or physically.
Similarly, some violent offenders
experience symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of the
residual effects of growing up with undiagnosed mental health disorders such as
Attention Deficit Disorder (“ADD”), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (“ADHD”), Bipolar, etc. that have been exacerbated by being abused,
bullied, assaulted (with or without weapons), robbed at gunpoint, or witnessing
violence in their communities.
Too often are our inner-city youths
depicted as (“super”) predators and consequently given lengthy sentences and
thrown in prison, as opposed to properly vetting them to identify what would be
the most effective treatment before, during, and after their incarceration. Use of the Sequential Intercept Model as an
approach to decriminalization of people with serious mental illness could be a
viable alternative. (Mark R. Munetz,
M.D., Patricia A. Griffith, Ph.D.) It
is
“ . . . a conceptual framework for communities to use when
considering the interface between the criminal justice and mental health
systems as they address the concerns about criminalization of people with
mental health illness. The model
envisions a series of points of interception at which an intervention can be
made to prevent individuals from entering or penetrating deeper into the
criminal justice system. Ideally, most
people will be intercepted at early points, with decreasing numbers at each
subsequent point. The interception
points are law enforcement and emergency services, initial detention and
initial hearings; jails, courts, forensic evaluations, and forensic commitments;
reentry from jails, state prisons, and forensic hospitalization; and community
corrections and community support. The
model provides an organizing tool for a discussion of diversion and linkage
alternatives and for systematically addressing criminalization. Using the model, a community can develop
targeted strategies that evolve over time to increase diversion of people with
mental illness from the criminal justice system and link them with community
treatment.”
(Psychiatric Services
57:544-549, 2006)
Obviously, people with mental
illness who commit crimes with criminal intent that are unrelated to
symptomatic mental illness should be held accountable for their actions, as
anyone else would be. However, should
such people be detained for the rest of their lives, or longer than others when
there could be mitigating evidence to support leniency?
What is to come of fatherless
children who live in impoverished communities?
Many of these children have
experienced traumatic events ranging from molestation, rape, and violence in
their households or in the larger community. As a product of my environment, I
sincerely believe that mental health is a discussion that must take place in
every household. It could have a
tremendous impact on violent crimes and suicides.
Clearly, I am not a psychiatrist nor
a psychologist. However, I am a father
of three children – Seanna, 28; Sean, 26; Shakirha, 23; and a grandfather of
two – Zuri, 4, and Abdullah, 3. I fear
that in communities, like mine, with poorly developed mental health systems,
few will be detected early. Ultimately,
guaranteeing that more youth and adults alike suffering from post-traumatic
stress and other mental health disorders will continue to move through the
criminal justice system undetected and undiagnosed. Consequently, this demographic will probably
continue to relapse into drug and alcohol abuse and criminal behavior oblivious
to their psychological deficiencies.
Obviously, growing up in urban
communities can present a plethora of socio-economic concerns. What is to come of fatherless children who,
as a result, may face even more psychological challenges? Who is monitoring their mental health? I’m not big on making excuses for myself, or
others, especially when there are victims involved. However, there is a big difference between an
excuse and a reason. An excuse is an
attempt to negate accountability.
Whereas, a reason serves as a motive or cause of a particular
effect. Identifying the correlation
between mental health disorders and (violent) crime could lead to the
development of alternative methods to crime prevention, rehabilitation, and curbing
recidivism.
As a peer counselor at SCI Dallas’
therapeutic community – Moving Towards Change (MIC) --, I encounter a
disproportionate amount of men suffering from co-occurring disorders (mental
health and substance abuse). Many of
them were unaware of this condition prior to their incarceration. Likewise, there are probably many, including
myself, who are still unaware of a pre-existing condition or even the effect of
the trauma associated with being incarcerated – which is why this article is important!
If we are not aware a problem
exists, then how can we properly identify, monitor, and receive treatment for
it? I believe that every child exposed
to traumatic events either in school or in their household, as well as, anyone
admitted to the emergency rooms in hospitals should be evaluated for
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health disorders that could
become intensified by violent acts committed against them.
With all of the controversy
concerning the appeal of the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”/”Obamacare”), I’m sure
that this issue could very well be subject to the status quo of
bureaucracy. However, we live in an
innovative age of technology where illnesses and diseases that were deemed
incurable now have an antidote.
Likewise, by taking an innovative approach towards providing a mentally
healthy environment, we could have a powerful impact on our society.
For more dialogue, please contact me:
Sean K. Davis, #BM6717, SCI-Dallas, 1000 Follies Road, Dallas, PA
18612. Or you can go to ConnectWork.com
and open an e-mail account. You can also contact Dr. Mark R. Munetz who is the
Chief Clinical Officer of the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental
Health Services Board, 100 Cedar Street, Suite 300, Akron, OH 44307,
e-mail: mmunetz@neoucom.edu). Dr. Munetz is also affiliated with the
Department of Psychiatry at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
in Rootstown, Ohio. Additionally, you
can contact Patricia A. Griffin Ph.D., a Senior Consultant for the National
GAINS Center for People with
Co-Occurring Disorders in the Justice System and the Philadelphia Department of
Behavioral Health by visiting her website at http;//www.partnersofexcellence.pit,edu/
contact.html).
___________
MR. CARL S. DANIELS is a Restorative Justice Advocate and
Contributing Editor to IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD®.
MR. SEAN K. DAVIS is a Restorative Justice Advocate and
Contributing Editor to IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD®.
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