Haron Monis was mentally ill
Haron Monis was a personality disordered person, exhibiting narcissistic personality disorder with associated pathological self righteousness, violent misogyny, and delusions of grandeur who was likely also fueled by some level of PTSD. When charged with sexual assault in March this year, he had set himself up as an expert in “astrology, numerology, meditation and black magic” services, which seems completely at odds with his vision of himself as a devout muslim of any kind whatsoever. My view is that like anyone with significant personality disorders underpinning their deranged behaviour, he was a mentally ill person. We can hate and demonise Haron Monis as much as we might any psychopath, any severely personality disordered human being in the wake of the damage done. But until we face that we are overlooking many many many personality disordered people as those with mental illness, we will not deal appropriately with those who are born, or become this way before they do these deeds.
Misogyny is not a symptom of mental illness.
Also, the vast majority of violent crime is committed by entirely sane people.
Trying to pin violent behaviour on the mentally ill, and advocating for mental health reform only when someone commits a violent act, does a great amount of harm to mentally ill people.
So don’t do it.
Hi Arthur, I agree entirely that most violent crime is done by personality disordered people… not those with mood, anxiety, compulsive disorders or psychosis. Personality Disorders are under diagnosed, including psychopathy. There is nothing ‘normal’ or ‘sane’ about those with personality disorders including psychopathy. The article was to draw attention to the need to recognise and address personality disorders and psychopathy before those people do such harm. I had treatment for mood, anxiety, compulsive disorders, PTSD and DID. I also have a mother who I feel is personality disordered and psychopathic. She was sectioned when I was 3 but released. She also experienced mood, anxiety and compulsive disorders but I feel that only her personality disorders and psychopathy are part of her harming others.