Dr. Sarah Hughes says charities must address the risk of violence from a minority of people with severe mental illness to improve public and patient safety.

Dr. Sarah Hughes, CEO of the mental health charity Mind, stated that the sector has failed to acknowledge the risk of violence posed by a minority of individuals with severe mental illnesses. Her comments come ahead of the conclusion of the public inquiry into the June 2023 Nottingham attacks, where three people were killed by Valdo Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Hughes urged charities to have more open conversations about these risks despite concerns regarding stigma.

Addressing Risks and Stigma

Hughes noted that mental health organizations have historically avoided discussing the risk of violence to prevent increasing stigma and harassment toward those with mental health conditions. She acknowledged that while the majority of people with mental health issues are not violent, the consequences when violence does occur are grave. She stated that Mind is now working to integrate these difficult conversations into its strategy, emphasizing that patient care and public safety are not mutually exclusive.

Context of the Nottingham Inquiry

The public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks has examined the events leading to the deaths of Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates. Evidence presented showed that Calocane had committed multiple violent incidents, refused medication, and was sectioned four times in two years prior to the killings. Calocane’s mother described the mental health system as broken, while Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber, welcomed Hughes's call for more transparency regarding risks of violence.

Expert Perspectives on Risk

Seena Fazel, a professor of forensic psychiatry at the University of Oxford, stated that research indicates an elevated risk of violence among people with schizophrenia compared to the general population, though the absolute risk remains small. He noted that this risk increases with factors such as substance abuse or a history of violence, but added that existing treatments can effectively reduce these risks.