Mind chief says mental health groups failed to acknowledge violence risk
Mind chief executive Dr Sarah Hughes said mental health organisations had not sufficiently acknowledged the risk of violence from a minority of people with severe mental illnesses. She said charities had avoided the issue because discussing it could increase stigma and harassment, making the comments ahead of the closure of the inquiry into the Nottingham attacks.
Dr Sarah Hughes, chief executive of mental health charity Mind, said mental health organisations had “failed to acknowledge” the risk of violence from a minority of people with severe mental illnesses.
Hughes said charities had shied away from addressing the issue because it had increased stigma and harassment around people with mental health conditions.
Her comments came ahead of the closure of the inquiry into the Nottingham attacks. Hughes has led Mind for four years and has worked in the mental health sector for almost four decades.
THE QUESTIONS THIS EVENT LEAVES BEHIND
What evidence does Mind use to assess the risk of violence among people with severe mental illnesses?
How might acknowledging this risk affect people with mental health conditions who are not violent?
What safeguards would be needed to prevent discussion of violence from increasing stigma or harassment?
What findings or recommendations could emerge from the Nottingham attacks inquiry?
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