People With Mental Health Issues More Likely To Become Victims Of Crime

People with mental health problems are up to ten times more likely to become victims of crime than the general population, according to new research by charities and academics.

'At risk, yet dismissed: the criminal victimisation of people with mental health problems' also found people with severe mental illness were more likely to be repeat victims of crime, yet were far less likely to be satisfied with their treatment by police. They were also more affected by crime than those without mental health problems.

It is the first UK survey on crime against people with severe mental illness compared with crime against the general population. The findings paint a stark picture of the risks and the barriers people with mental health problems face in getting the help they need.

The research was a partnership of Victim Support, the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, Mind, the mental health charity, the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education at Kingston University and St George's, University of London, in collaboration with UCL (University College London).

The authors today publish specific recommendations for police and the criminal justice system, the health service, housing and other agencies and charities and call for an urgent national debate across Government on how to respond to the needs of victims of crime with mental health problems.

Javed Khan, Chief Executive of Victim Support said: "It is nothing short of a national scandal that some of the most vulnerable people in our society become victims of crime so often and yet when they seek help they are met with disbelief or even blame.

"It is unacceptable that the criminal justice system fails to meet the needs of people with mental health problems when this report shows all too clearly the terrible impact of crime on them.

"There must be an urgent debate across Government, commissioners, criminal justice agencies and the voluntary and public sectors on how best to begin a swift and effective process of reform. We look forward to making a key contribution to this debate."

Mind's Chief Executive Paul Farmer said: "Being a victim of crime is a horrible experience for anyone to cope with but when you have a mental health problem the impact on your life can be even worse.

"People with mental health problems have an equal right to justice, yet this report reveals that this is not the reality for far too many of us. It is unacceptable that the police, healthcare staff and others who are supposed to support victims of crime may be dismissive of or not believe a person’s experience, or may even blame them for the crime.

"We are calling on the police, commissioners, healthcare staff, support agencies, local and national government to work together and improve services for people with mental health problems who are the victims of crime."

(CD/IT)