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Compulsory hospitalization for violent criminals: Doctors sound the alarm!
Aschaffenburg in focus: Violent acts committed by mentally ill people urgently require new prevention measures and debates about compulsory admissions.
Compulsory hospitalization for violent criminals: Doctors sound the alarm!
In Germany, acts of violence committed by mentally ill people are an alarming phenomenon. There have recently been shocking incidents: a man killed two people with a knife in Aschaffenburg, and a woman injured 18 people in a shooting spree at Hamburg Central Station. In Munich, too, a man was let loose with a knife on two others. These events once again raise questions about the safety of society and the capabilities of the mental health system. According to Welt, the discussion about the forced admission of violent people has flared up again.
The focus is on a new position paper from the German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Neurology (DGPPN). This calls for the legal options to be made more flexible in order to take violent people into psychiatric treatment against their will. DGPPN President Euphrosyne Gouzoulis-Mayfrank emphasizes that it is necessary to find the balance between individual freedom and the protection of the community. An acute risk potential is often not adequately proven, which leads to an unnecessarily quick discharge from the psychiatric clinic. The case of the woman who was stabbed in Hamburg and was only released from treatment the day before is tragic.
The role of treatment and prevention
The DGPPN and the German Society for Mental Health (DGSP), which support the position paper, emphasize that early and consistent treatment of mental illnesses is the most effective strategy for preventing violence. Psychoses and substance addictions in particular are disorders with a statistically increased risk of violent acts. It is important to emphasize that mentally ill people are often victims of violence rather than perpetrators.
In order to meet the need for better care, an expansion of community psychiatric and forensic care structures is required. This includes low-threshold help and outreach services that those affected can reach directly. Instead of being included in a register, therapeutic conditions upon discharge should instead be better used. Political discussions that deal with registrations and data collection could further stigmatize those affected and harm their care, warns the DGPPN.
Overcome stigma
The stigmatization of mental illness is another hurdle that needs to be overcome. Many sufferers feel excluded and are afraid to seek help, which increases the risk that their illness will become chronic. According to a report in Ärzteblatt, stigma is not only an additional burden for those affected, but is also referred to as a “second disease”.
To counteract this problem, there are nationwide activities, such as the Mental Health Action Week, which takes place annually in October. An educational campaign to destigmatize mental illnesses is announced in the 2021 coalition agreement. Evidence-based strategies to reduce stigma are also called for. The aim is to promote a better understanding of mental illnesses and reduce prejudices.
Overall, the experts agree that a rethink in society is necessary in order to be able to meet the challenges in the area of mental health. The discussion about compulsory admissions shows that the problem is complex and that numerous aspects must be taken into account in order to meet both the needs of those affected and the safety of the general public.