Violent victimization of the mentally ill- skeletons in the closet

ABSTRACT

Background: Mentally ill individuals are generally portrayed as being violent by society. Violence againstthe mentally ill, on the other hand is not portrayed despite its higher prevalence. It has been seen in a varietyof settings and needs to be estimated and tackled.Methodology: This study was conducted in a tertiary care centre in urban Bangalore.100 inpatients ofPsychiatry were compared with inpatients in Medicine and Surgery based on Norvold’s AbuseQuestionnaire (NorAQ) for lifetime emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Comparisons were also made onthe basis of gender.Results: A significantly higher prevalence of lifetime abuse was found in the mentally ill with differences inthe nature of abuse across gender.Conclusion: The mentally ill face significant discrimination and victimization in society which needs urgentaddressing. Variations in abuse across social scenario and gender are known to occur. More studies on thisaspect are required to guide lawmakers and mental health professionals alike.