Mental disorders collectively constitute the largest
burden of disease in young people. They have substantial negative short- and
long-term outcomes across many domains, yet early identification and effective
intervention can improve outcomes and can often lead to recovery.
Unfortunately, many young people do not receive the mental health care they
require and may consequently enter the justice system. Studies of incarcerated
youths show that up to 70% of them have mental disorders. Many of these youth
receive primarily custodial care. A variety of social, legal and medical
interventions can and should be implemented to ensure that young people
suffering from mental disorders do not inappropriately enter the justice system
due to lack of access to health care and other services.
While the exact number is unknown, it has been estimated
that as many as half of the incarcerated population suffers from mental
illness(es), a substance abuse problem, and/or a learning disability. Because
of a shortage of services and a lack of understanding by society, the mentally
ill are not receiving the care they require and instead are being criminalized
by being sent to prisons. Supreme Court Justice Beverly McLaughlin in
a statement in on March 8th,
2007 stated that “Such people are not true criminals, not real wrong-doers
in the traditional sense of those words. They become involved with the law
because they are mentally ill, addicted or both.”
Similarly, many police officers believe that mentally ill
perpetrators represent a disproportionate number of individuals incarcerated
for minor crimes. Some family members have noted that crimes may be committed
or encouraged to be committed in order for the mentally ill person to be
arrested. This may represent a “faint hope” that arrest will lead to treatment
which for a variety of different reasons is not otherwise available.
Last week Hon. Judge Michael McKee produced a report calling for 80 recommendations to patch up the
cracks in New Brunswick's mental health system.
"The stigmatization of
the mentally ill, the criminalization of the mentally ill in our court system
and the silos of government not working together, that's something that's gone
on for essentially decades and it has to be fixed," Murphy said.
We need to move away from the common misconception that
locking someone up and throwing away the key is an appropriate manner by which
to address mental health problems in our society. Mental illness and addiction
are health issues and are not effectively dealt with by the criminal justice
system.
Download: Together into the Future: A transformed mental health system for NewBrunswick ~ Dr. Stan Kutcher & Ainslie McDougall
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