NAMI Ask the Expert: An Evidence-Based Conversation on Violence and Mental Illness

This webinar reviews the topic of violence and mental illness from an evidence-based framework. First, the webinar will highlight different ways that social stigma and cognitive bias fuel exaggerated beliefs about the link between violence and mental illness. Then, empirical research will be presented, demonstrating that the scientific link between violence and mental illness is weaker than commonly believed-numerous other risk factors are stronger predictors of violence. A key point is that overweighting mental illness as a risk factor means underweighting more robust risk factors, which are external (e.g., poverty, financial strain, inadequate social support), internal (e.g., being male, younger age, anger, substance abuse) or violence-defining (e.g., lacking empathy, gun access, espousing ideologies of hate and violence). Finally, promising approaches and interventions will be discussed for preventing violence and enhancing public safety.