WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Medical
Director Institute (MDI) of the National Council for Behavioral
Health released, "Mass Violence in America: Causes, Impacts and
Solutions," a comprehensive response following recent episodes
of mass violence in El Paso, Texas; Dayton,
Ohio and Gilroy,
California. For the first time, this groundbreaking report
examines the reasons, contributing factors and actionable solutions
surrounding mass violence in America through the lens of behavioral
health.
In the wake of these extraordinary tragedies, policymakers and
the public are quick to raise the specter of mental illness as a
major contributing factor. According to the report, "people with
serious mental illness are responsible for less than 4 percent of
all violence and less than one-third of mass violence." Statistics
bear out that most people who commit mass violence do not have a
serious mental illness.
To dispel misconceptions and uncover the real issues surrounding
mass violence, MDI convened a diverse panel of experts, including
clinicians who treat individuals with mental illnesses and
substance use disorders, administrators, policymakers, researchers,
educators, advocates, law enforcement personnel, judges, FBI
personnel and parents to conduct an evidence-based analysis of mass
violence.
The report examines existing data and expertise on mass violence
and makes recommendations, including:
- Creation of threat assessment teams with members from human
resources, law enforcement, legal teams, security departments and
behavioral health clinicians.
- Enactment of state extreme-risk protection orders (also known
as red flag laws) that allow for the temporary removal of guns from
individuals who are known to pose a high risk of harming others or
themselves in the near future.
- Involve mental health professionals in threat assessments
conducted by law enforcement and implementation of red flag
laws.
- The requirement of training on violence risk assessment for all
clinicians.
- Training staff within schools, law enforcement and communities
with high-risk groups in Mental Health First Aid, which teaches
skills to respond to the signs of mental and substance abuse
disorders.
- Reexamination of the effectiveness of zero-tolerance policies
and security measures like bulletproof glass and metal detectors in
schools.
"Mass violence is a communitywide problem that demands a
communitywide solution," said Joe
Parks, M.D., co-chair of the Medical Director Institute.
"While there is no single solution to mass violence, the report
outlines a multifaceted community response that is required for
addressing this large-scale and growing national issue."
Chuck Ingoglia, president and CEO
of the National Council for Behavioral Health, said with the
release of this report, inaction on mass violence is no longer an
option. "For many law enforcement officers, clinicians, teachers
and others, a lack of knowledge has prevented them from developing
a coordinated plan to prevent mass violence. Previously, we have
done our best to prepare for the aftermath. With this comprehensive
plan, we finally have a roadmap to preventing and reducing it."
Reducing the frequency of mass violence does not lie with one
group or entity; it requires cooperation among multiple national
systems and institutions, including the health care, law
enforcement, judicial, correctional and school systems, as well as
government and community leaders and officials.
The expert panel was led by: Donald
Bechtold, M.D., DLFAPA, FAACAP, chief medical officer,
Jefferson Center for Mental Health; Sara
Coffey, D.O., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and
Behavioral Sciences, Oklahoma State
University; Jeffrey
Lieberman, M.D., chair, Department of Psychiatry,
Columbia University; and Frank Shelp, M.D., MPH, medical director,
Envolve.
Methodology
The Medical Director Institute brought together a diverse group
of practitioners, administrators, policymakers, researchers,
educators, advocates, payers, patients and family members to ensure
a discussion from a variety of viewpoints. Each provided literature
and research from their area of expertise. A technical writer and
co-editors recorded the proceedings and provided additional context
from outside literature and sources. The recommendations contained
in the report are concrete, specific and actionable. The executive
summary can be accessed here.
About the Medical Director Institute
The Medical Director Institute advises the National Council for
Behavioral Health board, staff and membership on issues and topics
heavily impacted by clinical practice and provide longer-term
guidance through a series of technical papers. The Medical Director
Institute is primarily composed of medical directors from National
Council member organizations. The full roster can be found at
www.thenationalcouncil.org/about/national-mental-health-association/medical-director-institute.
About the National Council for Behavioral Health
The National Council for Behavioral Health is the unifying voice
of America's health care organizations that deliver mental health
and addictions treatment and services. Together with our 3,000
member organizations serving over 10 million adults, children and
families living with mental illnesses and addictions, the National
Council is committed to all Americans having access to
comprehensive, high-quality care that affords every opportunity for
recovery. The National Council introduced Mental Health First Aid
USA and more than 1.5 million
Americans have been trained. For more information, please visit
www.TheNationalCouncil.org.
CONTACT
Sophia Majlessi
SophiaM@TheNationalCouncil.org
(202) 621-1631
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SOURCE National Council for Behavioral Health