Shawn Maxam on why the Aurora, Colorado shooting shows how we continue to fail individuals living with mental illnesses.
To assert in any case that a man must be absolutely cut off from society because he is absolutely evil amounts to saying that society is absolutely good, and no-one in his right mind will believe this today.
-Albert Camus
The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.
-William Shakespeare
I am not a huge fan of reacting to recent news events especially tragedies like what occurred in Aurora, Colorado. We attempt to explain why such things happen even when we aren’t fully informed. I don’t have all the facts. I don’t know who the alleged shooter was so like most people I will just fill in the blanks to tell the story that makes the most sense to me. I can admit my bias.
Regardless of any of our biases or political agendas we can all admit how sad of situation this shooting is. Anything beyond that is guesswork at best.
All I will say is that we should never jump to absolutes. It’s lazy and does a disservice to all of us when we use shortcuts like pure evil and sociopath. When we dehumanize individuals like alleged shooter James Holmes it allows us to not have to examine our own humanity. We can distance ourselves from “this sick person”. Not ever acknowledging that “these sick people” who commit heinous acts are our brothers, fathers, uncles, mothers, sisters, wives and husbands.
The truth is we can’t expect “the sick” which is to say people who probably have and live with severe mental illnesses to get better if we (all of us) don’t do better.
UPDATE: I think the National Alliance on Mental Illness has released the most measured statement about the tragedy and possible connections to mental illness that I have seen. Read it by clicking here.
Please share this with friends, enemies and temporary allies alike.
Thanks for reading, sharing and commenting!
R.I.P. SKH
Flickr image via JenXer
About S. Maxam
Hi Shawn, I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder with Psychotic Ideations in 1997 by a good Jewish doctor. So I can’t function to well in society since I can be very hard to be around. tho I am a really great guy once you get to know me my wife says, Lol. Do you know for sure if Mr. Holmes is bipolar/mentally ill, or are you just taking an educated guess that he is? I personally need to know if he is bipolar 1 or what? Can you give me anymore info about his mental state. Thanks bro, and I am glad your doing better than me.
P.S. If you get a chance go to my facebook page/timeline | Angel De Fuego | I am the one with the 1996 Harley and check out my bipolar 1 status……it’s not a pretty sight, lol.
Well Angel I am making an educated guess and it’s also based on a few “reports” from psychologists. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/james-holmes-alleged-colorado-batman-shooter-delusional-psychologists/story?id=16821836#.UAoEM7RfGfY
Again it is way to earlier to really speculate so take every thing with a grain of salt.
Thanks for sharing your story and I look forward to you living in recovery. I will check out your Facebook page/timeline.
I appreciate the blog’s intent on reminding the public that mental illness exists and is in all our lives, whether we like it or not. But what’s with the title? There’s enough male bashing out there and this title contributes to it in my book.
Well I was using men in the antiquated way it use to mean for mankind. Also I was making a reference to this William Shakespeare quote – “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.”
Does that make sense Ben?
Why do people (even psychiatric professionals) seem to refer to Bi-polar, borderline, or any thing possible except anti-social personality disorder?????? Why??? Seems he was operating without conscience, empathy or remorse????
I would guess bipolar disorder as a possibility because of the energy and rage that are characteristic of mania and the fact that his crime involved so much planning. Someone in a manic rage would lack empathy like someone with antisocial personality disorder (APD).
Antisocials often have bad traits ingrained into their personality where they are well aware of their actions and commit crimes. Under the influence of a mental illness, the person would have been known as to only do good in their lives and would never harm a fly, but an illness can make the brain go haywire to such an extent that they are not using their full facuties and are way out of touch with what is real. . This is why some of his close friends from his home town were shocked.
I just had this SAME exact conversation with a loved one of mine tonight. I had a boyfriend in college who was an all-star athlete, a straight A student, and mechanical engineering major. He was handsome, bright and funny — and he also killed himself (hung himself in the shower). Everyone loved him. Later, we found out that he had told a close friend that he heard voices that told him to do things. We suspected later that he was schizophrenic. Mental illness isn’t just someone else’s problem — it can touch the lives of all of us. With the right help, people like this can be saved from themselves AND from harming others. Many can go on to live normal lives once chemical imbalances are controlled. It makes me sad. So many people are dead now, and this young man who killed all of these people possibly could had had a bright future ahead of him, as well, if only someone might had noticed signs and symptoms. Some tragedies happen because the perpetrator is just plain evil. But I believe many of these cases have a root that could be fixed.
Thank you Ro, it’s exactly what I have been thinking all day. Mental illness will touch the lives of all of us, we must always be aware and help them as much as we can.
I am currently going to medical school and we deal with all kinds of patients. We currently don’t have a protocol (that I know of, anyway) that tells medical professionals how to deal with patients we feel might be mentally unstable (outside of keeping them if we think they will be a danger to themselves or others within 24 hours). This has really got me thinking. When I have my shift in the clinic this coming week, I’m going to look into this to see what medical professionals can do in the field to maybe try to point patients in the right direction into getting help — to know the signs to look for, and then know who to contact for help.
I have been thinking about whether there is a link between the high rates of male suicide and the propensity of males to commit shootings (meaning, that most shootings are by men rather than painting all men as evil..)
I think there is a link. I want to know, but I think that the same factors that bring a man to end his own life violently also play out when another takes a gun into a public place.
Is anyone looking at this?
Why didn’t you help him?
“All I will say is that we should never jump to absolutes. It’s lazy and does a disservice to all of us when we use shortcuts like pure evil and sociopath. When we dehumanize individuals like alleged shooter James Holmes it allows us to not have to examine our own humanity. We can distance ourselves from “this sick person”. Not ever acknowledging that “these sick people” who commit heinous acts are our brothers, fathers, uncles, mothers, sisters, wives and husbands.”
I couldn’t agree more. It’s really dangerous to draw a line between “normal” people and “evil” people. It makes it far too easy to pretend that it couldn’t happen to us, or someone we love.
When solutions seem very complex and out of our reach, we describe events more mythically and with words like “evil”. It’s a warranted emotional reaction that is telling of our current limitations. This is our edge of the cliff.
In order to believe in evil, you have to know what evil is. “Evil” is not the same as “mentally ill”…far from it. If you have never seen the supernatural at work, then true evil will not exist to you in your mind. If you HAVE seen it, then you know it exists. Hitler is one I would attribute to the word “evil.” If you have ever read any interviews from the people who met him, they all spoke of his charisma. He somehow could convince people that his plans and heinous acts were just, even though the rational mind would agree they were not. He was the kind of person who if you met him (according to those who knew him), he could make the hair on your arms stand on end and send chills down your spine. I met a person like this and I know evil exists. As for Mr. Holmes, I wonder about mental illness and feel so very bad for him, his family, and the now victims from his acts.
I’m not so sure. People believe in things without knowing what those things are all the time. The supernatural is another such belief. This belief is not foreign – I’ve used it many times. For me, evil is the German doctor who performed experiments on twins during the war. For me, that person is more evil than Hitler, but I could not tell you why.
Great post. I wholeheartedly agree.
Along with that goes the stigmatization of mental illness. The fear of being excluded, demonized, straightjacketed keeps many from seeking help. People didn’t chose to become mentally ill, as people don’t chose to get cancer. Whether we like it or not, those of us with a mental illness diagnosis are still part of ‘us’.
I’m sorry of I offend anyone, but I think James Holmes is pure evil. I don’t think he was delusional or pyschotic, I believe he went into that theatre in order to get a thrill out of killing living things. First he prepared himself then he boobytrapped his entire apartment to destroy not only the building, but probably 5 more near it. That doesn’t seem like a delusional man but a sadistic man.
It would be interesting to hear more of what his mother has to say. When the cops went to the house to tell the parents what had happened, the mother’s reply was, “Yep. You probably got the right guy.” Friends say that he had always been a loner who seemed to keep to himself, yet for those who really go to know him, they knew a friendly, very intelligent, funny guy with a good sense of humor. Some friends are absolutely SHOCKED to know that their friend who they call “Jimmy” would do what he did. Yet his own mother didn’t seem shocked at all. What does that say??? His friends also said that he like video games, but didn’t enjoy the shooting games. I have also heard that some killers start at a young age by finding neighborhood animals and slaughtering them. Eventually, they move on from torturing their neighbor’s cats and dogs, to people.
Hey Roseshel, with all due respect, but you got that wrong. Let’s not jump to conclusions and stick with what the people have actually said.
O-ton ABC news
Through her lawyer, Holmes today sought to clarify the remarks she made in that phone interview.
“I did not know anything about a shooting in Aurora at that time,” Arlene Holmes’s said in statement read by her lawyer today. “He [Mosk] asked if I was Arlene Holmes and if my son was James Holmes, who lives in Aurora, Colorado. I answered yes, you have the right person. I was referring to myself. I asked him to tell me why he was calling and he told me about a shooting in Aurora. He asked for a comment. I told him I could not comment because I did not know if the person he was talking about was my son and I would need to find out.”
Source http://abcnews.go.com/US/alleged-colorado-gunman-james-holmes-family-stand-son/story?id=16840162#.UA3M1mlWru0
I know. Thanks. I didn’t get it wrong…the news reporter did. I was just quoting what the news said. I head that the family lawyer has since corrected the news reports. But thanks for the clarification, anyway.
Shawn-
What a good article! I am a sibling of someone diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. After experiencing a few manic episodes with my brother, I gained a knowledge about bipolar disorder that I do not think I could have ever believed or understood by simply “reading about it.” I do not fault others who make “uneducated or inexperienced” conclusion that James Holmes was “evil.” I mean this sincerely and not sarcastically. I would not have believed that people could act in ways so inconsistent with who they really were and had been their entire lives until I witnessed it first hand. During his manic phase I watched my brother do and say things so inconsistent with the person I knew for over 30 years. We are only 2 years apart and I spent a lot of time, during our childhood, hanging out with him and his friends.
In the little information we have about James Holmes, I have wondered if, in fact, he is bipolar. A few things seems consistent with someone suffering bipolar disorder during a manic phase:
Excessive spending – (guns, ammo, etc.)
Heightened sexuality – (Creating an Adult Friend Finder Profile on July 6th looking for sexual encounters)
Potential paranoia – (full body armor -often commented on that it was in excessive of the amount worn by our soldiers in war)(Booby Trapping apartment to destroy the evidence)
Sudden change in behavior (inconsistent with person everyone knew in his past)
Very Intelligent
They are many more I am sure but I can say I DO NOT believe he is just “evil.” I agree that just labeling him as evil is the easier thing to do. I also believe that it is hard to comprehend, unless you have experienced it, that someone can act in a way that is so inconsistent with who they are.
I pray for all those involved that they get comfort and peace at some point, I cannot imagine the loss and terror that those affected are going through right now. I also pray for James and his family. I know how hard it is to be a family member of someone who is bipolar and on medication. It is so hard to sit back and watch someone you love make irrational choices that you cannot control. I worried that something bad would happen with my brother when he was manic. Thank God nothing ever did and he is now in acceptance and actively participating in staying medicated.
It is a tough disease that is very often misunderstood or mistaken for something else, I pray for all of you who deal with this disorder, either personally or through a family or friend. Never give up trying to help yourself or your loved one – as hard as it maybe at times.
Good post, “Sister of Bipolar Brother” — well said.
Could have written that myself. The “system” failed everyone here and it is heartbreaking.
When it comes to saying the system failed, I think this is a hard one. I know from experience that you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink. You can only help those who are willing to take the help and work with the process.
Many times we struggled with trying to convince my brother to get on or stay on medication. It was not until HE decided he was ready to accept the diagnosis and work on a treatment plan. As with any condition you take medication for, health or mental, it may require trial and error to find the right medication and continued evaluation and tweaking of dosages while you take it. I honestly thought the acceptance part was the biggest hurdle.
It is very hard to rationalized with someone while they are “manic”. Once they are no longer manic, they usually do not feel like they need to medicate since they feel fine. So the cycle begins unless they understand the way this disorder works and surrender to it and working to find the right treatment for them.
I am not sure it is a “system failure”. I believe it is a combination of lack of knowledge, “stigmas” placed on mental illness, and the difficulty in properly assessing mental illness since there are not any “blood tests” or “positive – negative” type tests you can easily run.
Awareness, empathy, and a non judgmental mind can go a long way in gaining a better understanding of the mental health arena. It is good to remember – No one knows everything and none of us are perfect!
Oh, stop making so much sense, “Sister of Bipolar Brother!” Haha. Just kidding. You’re awesome. I feel like I can read your posts and I don’t have to say a thing. I’ll just open my mouth and see if your words come falling out. Nice job.
Thanks!! I think the insight comes with a price tag! It’s hard to watch someone suffer with bipolar until they surrender to it. If I read correctly, you are going to med school. If so, you will have chances to make differences just because you are so insightful!! Best of luck!!!
A good read for your brother would be ‘An unquiet mind’ it’s a memoir of a UCLA psychology/psychiatry professor battling her bipolar illness and finally surrendering, as you put it nicely, to her fate. It’s a great, easy, and very encouraging read.
Thanks, “Sister.”
For everyone who asked this NY Times articles quickly summarizes how jumping to conclusion about mass murder killers is rarely accurate and often these individuals suffer from depression.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/opinion/sunday/the-unknown-why-in-the-aurora-killings.html?_r=1
The National Alliance on Mental Illness released the following statement regarding the Aurora tragedy which I think is very measured. http://blog.nami.org/2012/07/the-colorado-tragedy-what-families-are.html
The Colorado Tragedy: What Families Are Asking
By Mike Fitzpatrick, NAMI Executive Director
Along with so many other Americans, NAMI members have been saddened by the tragedy in Aurora, Colo. in which 12 people were slain and 58 wounded in a theater at the premiere of a Batman movie.
NAMI does not speculate about mental illness or other factors that may be involved in such tragedies—or for that matter other kinds of news events. No one should diagnose through the news media.
Despite many public perceptions, we do know that generally the likelihood of violence from people with mental illness is low. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General has reported that “the overall contribution of mental disorders to the total level of violence in society is exceptionally small.” There are many reasons why violence occurs in our society, many of which have nothing or little to do with mental illness.
On the other hand, violence sometimes occurs. In some cases, it is because something has gone wrong with the mental health care system. At this time, that does not seem to be the case.
Recognizing that there is a problem is always the first step. Right now, public inquiry is focused on whether or not the behavior of the person responsible for the tragedy ever caused anyone or any institution to encourage or require him to be evaluated
The Surgeon General has acknowledged that the risk of violence among individuals with mental illness increases to some degree in the case of substance abuse or psychosis, a symptom which typically involves a “break with reality” through paranoia, hallucinations or delusions. Social withdrawal may precede such breaks. Early warning signs of psychosis, particularly in the year leading up to the break, may include:
Worrisome drop in academic or job performance
New trouble thinking clearly or concentrating
Suspiciousness or uneasiness with others
Decline in self-care or personal hygiene
Spending a lot more time alone than usual
Increased sensitivity to sights or sounds
Mistaking noises for voices
Unusual or overly intense new ideas
Strange new feelings or having no feelings at all
Young adults in their 20s are the most common age group to experience the first onset of psychosis. This is a stage of life that usually challenges young people to develop more independence, establish an identity, create intimate relationships and move away from home. Immediate family members, who usually are most aware of changes in behavior of a loved one, play a less central role at this time, particularly if a person has moved to another city or state, such as to attend college or graduate school.
Psychosis is treatable. Many people recover from a first episode of psychosis and never experience another one. The first step, however, is always recognizing onset of the illness and getting treatment.
Again, one cannot diagnose based on media reports. Risks of violence among people with mental illness are low overall. It is important not to perpetuate stigmatizing stereotypes. However, NAMI has been asked by the news media and many concerned families over the last few days about warning signs and what to do.
Regardless of whether or not violence is a concern and regardless of what the case may turn out to be in the Aurora tragedy, the first step is to recognize warning signs of illness and to reach out to a person who may be in trouble. Help them get help.
For more information about mental illness, treatment and recovery, please browse this website or call the NAMI HelpLine at (800) 950-NAMI (6264).
Thank you Shawn for so eloquently putting into words exactly what I have been thinking for the past few days.
I am happy to hear that you are managing well with your bipolar and wish you continued success.