It’s become almost a cliche at this point—every time America sees another mass shooting, pundits and politicians blame our country’s gun violence problem on “mental illness.” Rather than acknowledging the role of the gun lobby in politics, or the renewed rise of racially motivated hate in recent years, the national conversation has become dominated by discussion of mental illness as the sole cause of gun deaths in this country. (Curiously, none of the politicians spouting the “mental illness” party line seem interested in making mental health care less expensive or easier to access.)
On Monday, in the wake of two high-profile shootings over the weekend, Donald Trump even called for people with mental illnesses to be involuntarily committed. In reality, research has shown that there’s no link between mental illness and violent crime, even “serious” mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. People with a mental health diagnosis are actually 10 times more likely to be the victims of a violent crime than to commit one. When it comes to predicting violent behavior, a history of domestic violence or hatred toward minority groups is a much more reliable indicator.
Fed up with the misinformation dominating the news, mental health blogger Cara Lisette took to Twitter and started a new hashtag campaign: #IAmNotDangerous. Thousands of Twitter users have joined in, sharing their personal stories and fighting back against the stigma of their diagnosis.
Hi, I�m Cara. I have bipolar disorder and anorexia. Never once have I considered a mass shooting. These incidents we are seeing time and time again in America are not as a result of mental illness. They are a product of male entitlement and white supremacy. #IAmNotDangerouspic.twitter.com/NOON0oypUC
August 6, 2019
Some users compared their struggles with mental illness to other medical issues:
I battle depression and anxiety. I have a chemical imbalance in my brain chemistry like a diabetic has with insulin. I am not violent nor a threat to society. Do not blame shootings on mental illness. #IAmNotDangerous
August 9, 2019
Others pointed out that despite having much higher rates of depression and other mental illnesses, women make up only a tiny fraction of those responsible for mass shootings:
#IAmNotDangerous Only 4% of mass shooters have been women- but any statistics I found show women have a higher % of mental illness than men- tired of seeing mental illness being blamed (obviously by ignorant people-looking at those basic stats alone)
August 9, 2019
Many posted photos of themselves, listing their interests, hobbies, and facts about their lives — showing that behind every diagnosis is a human being.
I�m Rob. I have Chronic Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, OCD, and various other ailments. I love my family and friends, I love animals, and I love making other people happy. #IAmNotDangerous, and what�s happening in our country breaks my heart. @CaraLisettepic.twitter.com/l4yL2zUkpo
August 8, 2019
My name is Louisa. I have schizoaffective disorder – diagnosed in 2009 I suffer with mental illness. Although #IAmNotDangerous I love my fiancÃ�©e, we own our own house and I work hard in a job I love. The # message is we are just like you and to not judge mental illness.âÂ�Â�ï¸Â�ðÂ�Â�Â�ðÂ�§ pic.twitter.com/4drtCEP3Qd
August 8, 2019
My name is Rebecca, I’m 23 and I’ve battled with mental illness for most of my life. I spent years caring for the elderly and hoping to become a nurse until I became too ill to work. Now instead I create beautiful artwork from home.#IAmNotDangerouspic.twitter.com/fpkliPIvHZ
August 7, 2019
I’m Anastasia. I like plants, knitting and books. I’m trying to make the world a better place by researching and writing history. I shouldn’t need to tell you why I would be on any proposed “mental health database” for you to respect my humanity and know that #IAmNotDangerous. pic.twitter.com/wyMeEKpbHb
August 8, 2019
I�m Ami�� I have BPD, severe OCD, anxiety, depression, ADHD, body dysmorphia, and I am recovered from anorexia and bulimia. My mental illnesses have never caused me to want to hurt another person. Gun violence is caused by racism and hatred. Not mental illness.#IAmNotDangerouspic.twitter.com/beMsSMTtcw
August 8, 2019
Hi I�m Shelby. I�m a PhD student, wife & dogmom. I suffer from generalized anxiety &panic disorder but I�ve never thought about shooting anyone. Mental illness plagues individuals of every nationality but mass shootings only happen in America. #IAmNotDangerouspic.twitter.com/gs1OJe2VkA
August 8, 2019
Hi, I�m Millie. I have multiple MH diagnoses. I am still in therapy but making progress. I also own too many novelty mugs and cosy blankets. I enjoy my job and am excited to pursue my career further. I love the colour yellow and I cry when I see cute dogs.#IAmNotDangerouspic.twitter.com/BlgGzkZFg8
August 8, 2019
My name is Tiffany. I�ve suffered with mood swings and anxiety since I was 12. I have a passion for learning about it and seeing what I can change. I work with children with autism and have plans to get my masters in early education so I can help more people. #IAmNotDangerouspic.twitter.com/ko5J8CQOBA
August 8, 2019
I�m Jill. My diagnoses are cPTSD, panic attack disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, and depression. This has been my version of normal for 15 years. My mental health is complicated, but I have never, ever wanted to harm someone because of it.#IAmNotDangerouspic.twitter.com/YkZJrXsSox
August 8, 2019
iâÂ�Â�m sarah, a 26 year old phd student. i am schizophrenic but youâÂ�Â�d never know it – so why do i feel so scared to share that with others? i am a cat lover and researcher of mental health textual implications – as normal as you are. #IAmNotDangerouspic.twitter.com/t7vuTaIFDz
August 7, 2019
I’ve diagnosed: undif schizo, social anx, depression, & use to have PTSD. Just the depression’s not in control. I’ll soon have a BA in Psyc. I’ll then get a MSW & then be a LCSW. I’m there for many. I’ve helped 100s of people for free & more not. I dislike evil.#IAmNotDangerouspic.twitter.com/0q3lO9pE97
August 8, 2019
Hello. My name is Leslie. I have Bipolar 1 Disorder, BPD, and PTSD. I also am a swimming lesson instructor and a substitute teacher. The only life I have ever considered ending is my own. People like me ARE NOT the problem. #IAmNotDangerouspic.twitter.com/2l9nbgNJO2
August 8, 2019
Even Stranger Things star David Harbour joined in, calling the rush to blame mass shooting deaths on people with mental illness “cowardly”:
The �mentally ill� (this arbitrary societally agreed upon cattle brand to differentiate �us� from �them� re: pain) are overwhelmingly SUBJECT to violence, not perpetrators. I am a card carrying member and those I�ve met in asylums are some of the kindest, lost people I�ve known.
August 8, 2019
More often it is the societally sanctioned sane that are violent. Being lost and confused and cracking up amidst the overwhelming hypocrisy and apathy of a society who�s very earth crumbles and decays by their own indifference seems to me a very considered response to daily life.
August 8, 2019
I tire of this archaic branding of a subset of the species altogether (who does not suffer), but certainly in times of cultural strife to focus rage, hatred and deep uncertainty on a weak, already ashamed and outcast group seems, at best cowardly, and at worst calculated evil.
August 8, 2019
It is an �ism� like all others. �Sanism.� And most days I deal with it with a certain duck-back-like-grace. But when you brand us the cause of societal ills, I bristle. And I think of where the �sane� have gotten us. And where the �sane� continue to lead us.
August 8, 2019
Elsewhere on Twitter, users called out racism and white supremacy as the true root causes of shootings such as those in El Paso:
Quit blaming the mentally ill for mass murders. Most of us are too depressed to clean our rooms or too anxious to ask for extra ketchup for our fries. Being a white supremacist is not a mental illness, it’s a choice.
August 4, 2019
Others pointed out that only white shooters get the benefit of the doubt—that people of color aren’t able to blame their crimes on “mental illness” …
It’s funny to me how these mass shooters get the mental illness sympathy card because they are white. If it’s us we’re thugs. Now I guess when the police murder our young or us as a whole, it must be MENTAL ILLNESS. Straight BULLSHIT.
August 5, 2019
… and that crimes committed against POC rarely receive the same treatment.
If mass murder is a mental illness, should we assume all of the individuals who brutalized, lynched and collected physical souvenirs from accused blacks were also mentally ill? If so, please realize that would mean 95% of Northern and Southern whites were mentally ill. https://t.co/2faMUoo4PJ
August 8, 2019
While one hashtag campaign won’t change the way we discuss gun violence overnight, activists are taking important steps toward changing the conversation. And, in the end, it’s clear that the campaign is showing people who struggle with mental illness that they are far from alone.
I often look around me & feel like I’m the only one struggling- everyone else seems to have their shit together. The photos from #IAmNotDangerous are reminding me that people can look happy & confident, even if they don’t always feel it. Vulnerability is OK.@CaraLisette
August 7, 2019
