Mental Health Databases: The New Executive Order?

In a September post, I addressed the Navy Yard Shooter's suspected mental illness and the consequences of this revelation. Recently, in the official report on the Newton Shootings, it was found that the shooter was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of Autism, in addition to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Anxiety. Study and study show that the link between mental illness and violence is NOT that clear; in fact, there confounding factors that are related to both that are more predictive of violence (socioeconomic status, history of being a victim of violence, history of incarceration, substance use and abuse, employment status, housing, etc). However, these factors are almost always overlooked in favor of a mental illness diagnosis.

By franky242, published on 03 January 2014 Stock Photo - image ID: 100225387

Executive Order 9066 signed by President Roosevelt during World War II created internment camps for Japanese Americans on the West Coast in order to prevent them from access to any military areas. The order was enacted in order to secure the safety of the American people and military, and to quell public hysteria that Japanese individuals were a threat to national security. Now we are facing a similar hysteria as the outcry for banning guns and restricting the rights of those with a mental illness grows louder. In fact, while some legislation has aimed at the severely mentally ill only, policies are in place in over twenty states that call for a Mental Health Database which contains the names of individuals who received mental health treatment.

By Ambro, published on 04 April 2011Stock Photo - image ID: 10036553

What is "mental health treatment"? It's counseling. It's talk therapy. It's going to a licensed professional when you are struggling with your spouse, your children, your job, or basically any aspect of your life. Counseling is offered at many jobs free of charge through employee assistance programs, and has been proven to be a beneficial resource. However, there is already a stigma for those who seek counseling, and with the added potential of risking one's confidentiality it is hard to image that people will be more inclined to seek help, if willing at all. 


Is a national database of mental health patients the new executive order leading to the marginalization of those who want to get help in a confidential way? Interestingly enough, the Newton shooter was engaged in counseling, and his therapist(s) found nothing alarming with him; they found no reasons to believe that he would have ever harmed anyone. What will happen when those who desperately need help, those who would commit heinous acts of violence, are so turned off by the idea of a mental health database that they do not even step foot into a doctor's office? Will we resort to even stricter rules of mandated treatment to ensure that the mentally ill are screened kept from society for our own safety? 
In order to protect the rights of ourselves and others, we must make sure we do not perpetuate stereotypes, or trust in the promise of safety without being shown how a law or policy has been researched and illustrated to be successful. We must be vigilant in doing our own research, and be comfortable questioning those who think they have the answers.