Do you think mental illness can excuse a persons actions?

Question

For example...
- criminals who get off with being found "not legally responsible" 
- addicts who use their addiction as an excuse for abuse or bad behaviour
- ptsd being used as an excuse for hitting spouses / being violent 
- any other mental illness being used as an excuse for how a person acted.

Accepted Answer

Explanation? Yes. Excuse? No.
In having this conversation I think it’s really important to note that people with mental illnesses are not necessarily dangerous, violent, behaving badly, or doing harmful things. The fact is, they are more apt to be harmed or victims of violence. It’s really important to understand mental illness of we’re going to talk about it.

Answer

Mental illness is never an excuse for a person's actions, but it can provide information and understanding as to why they did it.

Answer

To a point. Some mental illnesses make it so you literally can’t control your actions. They should still be put in a hospital and kept there, but not jail.

Answer

Yes in certain cases. My great grandmother was schizophrenic and tried to drown my grandpa and great uncle when they were kids. She thought she heard angels telling her to do it. She was institutionalized, because she was not responsible for her actions. I 100% agree with that. The only honest answer here is "depends."

Answer

Honestly, it depends. I think the word 'excuse' makes it sound like that behaviour is acceptable, but really it's more about whether the behaviour is unavoidable. I have really bad anxiety and phobias. If I go to get a needle, I will have panic attacks and I'll do everything I can to not have that needle. In that moment I don't have control, my anxiety does. People think that all mental illnesses involve an element of choice, but that's like saying all physical illnesses do too. Sure, it's possible to avoid having a migraine if you avoid your triggers for it, same as I can avoid having huge panic attacks if I don't try to have needles. It depends on how much control a person has on their triggers, and how serious their illness is. Mental illness isn't a black and white topic and it needs to stop being treated as such

Answer

My boyfriend is a recovering addict & 2 weeks ago he snapped and attacked me going through the withdrawal phase. I could tell in his eyes that it was NOT him in that moment.

Answer

No. I think the people who get off due to mental disorder or defect still need to be locked away for what they did, but just closely monitored by doctors. That shouldn't be an excuse. They still need to learn what they did wronf, and be court ordered to properly medicate to prevent further issues. (If it is somthing that medication can help control)

Answer

Excuse as to get away with the crime? No. Even if the person for example, with the mental illness committed the crime, they’d still be put away in a psych ward as to not harm others.

Answer

I feel like most people who commit crimes have some sort of mental illness lol. Or is that just me. I think in general we should be trying to help people and work on rehabilitation whatever that means. (I mean if they’re not in jail for life) why did they commit the crime and were they in control and yes jail time hospitalization or both! But help not just lock you up and let you go to do it again.

Answer

It’s a really tough subject. Because some people dont know/ don’t accept they’re sick and lots of the same sickness are very different cases. But they should be in an institution to make sure they’re on proper medication and not a hard to anyone or themselves.

Do you think mental illness can excuse a persons actions?

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