By Nancy Virden (c)2024

A city is angry and a family is devastated in a suburb of Cleveland. A woman randomly attacked a mother and a three-year-old boy, killing the boy. The mother of the murderer said her daughter was probably hallucinating and was not taking her psychiatric medications, amassing vitriolic comments pouring out in rage. People are scared and want justice; they see mental illness in this case as an attempt at excuse-making.

Based on my experience with depression and bipolar disorder and some of the strange behaviors that can accompany each, I do not believe we ever lose personal responsibility for our actions. A few psychiatrists and preachers have claimed that a person has no choice when under the influence of a mental illness, however, there is always a choice. In the very character of a person is the choice to pursue good, to submit to authority and experts, and to prepare for the worst. Knowing how is challenging and is why willingness to seek help is important.

I’ve never claimed to be an expert and at the bottom of each blog is the qualification that I speak only from experience and observation. In communication with people in a variety of situations with mental disorders, I see some submit to the knowledge of the experts, and others who listen instead to their illness. I have done both and take full responsibility for my actions. Certainly, everything is not that black and white or simple. It can take a long time to learn to live well with a disorder.

Meanwhile, unsavory or criminal acts are the responsibility of the person who committed them. Based on the prior acts of this particular murderer, I suspect she was plagued with a guilty conscience and tried to warn others. She told a judge she would kill someone and he let her go anyway. She confessed to another murder but no one found evidence and she was set free.

What she did was horrendous and an evil crime. There is a permanent loss for that family, and a boy will not live to see kindergarten or graduation, marriage or fatherhood. Mental illness does not make this all okay. It may be a reason, and we must be more diligent about taking it seriously. She should have been evaluated earlier over some time, and held until she was stable. Human rights activists advocate letting adults go. But not only has her freedom destroyed her life, but the community may never be the same.

Obviously, witch hunts produce no good. It is important to mention that people with mental disorders are very much more likely to be victims of crime than to commit them. When a person is demonstrably unstable and expressing violent ideation, she can be helped with dedicated supervision and therapy, for the good of many.

What say you?

Today’s Helpful Word

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

If you are feeling suicidal, or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or for a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room. In the EU call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here ). Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional, and speaks only from personal experience and observations. In no way is this website intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

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