No need to fear the mentally ill, says psychiatrist Nizar Ladha
A St. John's psychiatrist says incidents of the mentally ill perpetrating shocking crimes such as the one that took place on a soccer field in Topsail, Conception Bay South last week are so rare they are practically impossible to predict.
"The incidents are minuscule," Dr. Nizar Ladha told CBC News, adding that it's far more likely that those with a mental illness will do harm to themselves than anyone else.
Ladha agreed to speak in general terms about the perceptions associated with mental illness, but said he could not offers specifics about the Sept. 25 incident on a soccer field in the Topsail area of Conception Bay South in which an 11-year-old boy was stabbed during a skills camp.
The victim sustained serious injuries, and Nicholas Layman, 19, faces a charge of attempted murder.
Unanswered questions
There are many unanswered questions about the incident, including what motivated someone to run onto a field crowded with young players and coaches and violently attack a young boy.
One of the questions being pondered is the suspect's mental state. He is currently undergoing a week-long psychiatric assessment, and is scheduled to make another court appearance on Oct. 3.
Some may also wonder the process by which a decision is made as to whether an accused is fit to stand trial.
Ladha said it's not complicated.
"It is made by the judge," he said, adding that the decision is usually based on the recommendation of a psychiatrist and other specialists.
He said the accused has to understand the roles of the various players in the justice system, including the judge, prosecutor and defence. But Ladha said the true litmus test for him is whether the accused can communicate with his or her legal counsel.
"It depends on the state of the mental functions of an individual," he explained.
The law requires that anyone brought before the justice system understand why they are charged, the consequences of those charges and why they may be punished, Ladha explained.
"Otherwise, there doesn't seem to be any point to the process," he noted.
A safe society
Ladha acknowledged there may be a perception in the public that people with mental illnesses are dangerous. He said that is not accurate, at least in the vast majority of cases.
"The mentally ill are victims themselves much more often than they are the perpetrators of crimes," he said.
"They become victims on the streets, within families and other places because of the kind of behaviour they may exhibit. The mentally ill are also victims of their own illness," he added.
Ladha said the rate of suicide among those with mental illnesses is high.
"By midnight, 10 Canadians would have died from suicide at their own hands. By Dec. 31, there will be 4,000 suicides because of mental health, and around the world, one million people will have died at their own hands, largely as a result of mental illness."
Ladha again emphasized that the public should feel safe because "we live in a very safe society."