Crime and mental health

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kilo39

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Violent crime in South Africa is taking its toll on the country's psyche, and in some areas as many as one out of every five people suffer from violence-related mental problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

According to police figures, every day last year 51 people were murdered, 150 rapes reported, 3 836 people seriously assaulted and 347 armed robberies took place.

The country's suicide rate is also higher than the international average with about two people ending their own lives every hour.
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It is disturbing although not at all surprising. I think if you asked most people who experience violent crime here and then left how their lives have changed you would hear the same thing. Even those who haven't been directly affected would notice the difference.

Generally, I find those who say that crime doesn't affect them at all in SA to be either ignorant or in denial.
 
icyrus said:
Generally, I find those who say that crime doesn't affect them at all in SA to be either ignorant or in denial.
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Ya, you don't have to be a victim to be a victim.

SA Journalists and Tsunami: we handle disaster better than international journalists - we are sufficiently brutalised.
 
More about secondary trauma:

Whole communities can suffer from it.

Most of the world suffered secondary trauma following the 9/11 attacks in the US, fearing similar incidents in their own countries.

People who have never been a crime statistic can suffer from extensive secondary trauma because they hear other people's stories and feel as though the event happened to them.

Many people in high crime areas suffer from secondary trauma.

An upsurge in gang violence can lead to an upsurge in secondary trauma.

High-profile crimes, such as the murders of Richard Bloom and Brett Goldin, can also lead to an increase in secondary trauma.

Counselling is very effective in addressing this issue.

Be aware of your children becoming obsessed with the fear of crime. Have them assessed by a psychologist if you are concerned.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=31&art_id=vn20060629121818840C340920
 
Talking about trauma, have you ever stopped and thought about the trauma caused to millions by the Apartheid regime, was there ever counselling for that, is there a possibility that the said trauma that was left undealt with could be leading people to commit horrific crimes today? just a thought..........
 
Between 2000 and 2005 the so-called Intifada between Palestinians and the state of the art Israeli army killed 4000 people, 3 people a day. For the past thirteen days the Israeli airforce has dropped something like 24 tons of explosives on Lebanon killing 350 people, 27 people a day. They call it a war.
At 51 people a day ordinary criminals in South Africa are outdoing sophisticated armies in their killing efficiency. Makes you think, don't it?
 
Waron said:
Be aware of your children becoming obsessed with the fear of crime. Have them assessed by a psychologist if you are concerned.
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Wilson said 7 000 lives could be lost this year as youth experienced increased poverty, fewer found meaningful work, drug abuse grew and HIV and Aids continued to wreak havoc.
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In South Africa, people with HIV and Aids were up to 36 times more likely to commit suicide, he said. Up to one-third of all suicide victims had tried to kill themselves previously.

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Angelo said:
Talking about trauma, have you ever stopped and thought about the trauma caused to millions by the Apartheid regime, was there ever counselling for that, is there a possibility that the said trauma that was left undealt with could be leading people to commit horrific crimes today? just a thought..........
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Worth a study no doubt. Have any been done?

Edit: on a side note, aren't alot of our more violent crimes being commited by foreigners?
 
Angelo said:
Talking about trauma, have you ever stopped and thought about the trauma caused to millions by the Apartheid regime, was there ever counselling for that, is there a possibility that the said trauma that was left undealt with could be leading people to commit horrific crimes today? just a thought..........
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It's Apartheids Fault

Anyway - I thought as far as you were concerned everything is spritzy - now all of a sudden there are horrific crimes? No Angelo - please show me where?

Perhaps the constant Great Victory means we never look forward? Or is this just one more aspect of uncaring government?
 
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Angelo said:
Talking about trauma, have you ever stopped and thought about the trauma caused to millions by the Apartheid regime, was there ever counselling for that, is there a possibility that the said trauma that was left undealt with could be leading people to commit horrific crimes today? just a thought..........
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It’s not a question or the apartheid ‘victims’ got counseling or nor, the question is IF THEY DID GET IT, WOULD THEY HAVE UNDERTOOD IT.
 
Angelo said:
Talking about trauma, have you ever stopped and thought about the trauma caused to millions by the Apartheid regime, was there ever counselling for that, is there a possibility that the said trauma that was left undealt with could be leading people to commit horrific crimes today? just a thought..........
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Would love to give some money for counselling but my last few cents go to the government in the form of tax, and I am trusting them to help the rest of South Africa with my and other people's money
 
Angelo said:
the trauma caused to millions by the Apartheid regime... ...leading people to commit horrific crimes today? just a thought..........
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Most criminals today are between the ages of 14 and 25 - never really "lived" through the Apartheid era.
 
Can it be

And I quote pupa ...it’s in the genes.:D :D
 
Angelo said:
Talking about trauma, have you ever stopped and thought about the trauma caused to millions by the Apartheid regime, was there ever counselling for that, is there a possibility that the said trauma that was left undealt with could be leading people to commit horrific crimes today? just a thought..........
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as usual with your short sighted and apathetic attitude that you share with your comrades in power, you faile to notice this thread is not about 10 years ago but today. Futher more that is an issue you should take with your comrades in power but you best step in line, cuz they pretty useless, or laternatively leave as suggested by yet another of your comrades.

Please take your whinging of apartheid elsewhere because incase you have filed to notice that was abolished more then 10 years ago.

Lets rather discuss issues that pertain to our country today before there is no country.
 
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ajak said:
It’s not a question or the apartheid ‘victims’ got counseling or nor, the question is IF THEY DID GET IT, WOULD THEY HAVE UNDERTOOD IT.
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ROFLOL Is having a good laugh about this racist? Must say I'm confused -. If I imagine PW saying it - then it is definitely racist... If I imagine a white politician saying it - of the afrikaaners for instance - then surely that would equal racist too? :D Or not? Racism is bad but clever stupid people are worse. And this becomes the biggest problem: the constant focus on non-delivery (any subject) is inevitably a racial one; which raises the spectres - instead of getting on with it/solving issues - as we all agreed in the beginning. The Great Victory Sucks. And - we should ALL check in for therapy - I've heard it's good for you.
 
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Waron said:
Most criminals today are between the ages of 14 and 25 - never really "lived" through the Apartheid era.
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Don't be naive, Apartheid is not affecting only those who "lived" through it, many young people today are living in households that were affected by Apartheid in one way or another, imagine what life is like for somebody who lost a parent or sibling during that era which means nobody to provide parentage, education, and other things that children need.

Others have people in their families who still bear physical and psychologic wounds from those days and that affects the family structure. Just as much as most young whites who never lived lived through Apartheid are enjoying fruits of their parents' privillege, Black youths whose parents were oppressed are still suffering economically as a result. And it is very naive to think that everything just became renewed in 94. The consequences of that system may well be with us for many decades to come no matter what me or you may think.
 
halicon said:
Lets rather discuss issues that pertain to our country today before there is no country.
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No issue in South Africa today is more important than addressing the wrongs of the past, you ignore that and you'll just be going around in circles without getting anywhere. Economic exclusion was the order of the day for many decades and today we all face the consequences and there is no way the country will rid itself of its many social ills without addressing this. Its a fact you need to deal with.
 
It is weird that there are societies that have suffered through world wars, aerial bombings, segregation, holocaust, nuclear strikes, genocide AND YET THESE SOCIETIES ARE NOT VIOLENT AND THEY ARE NOT STILL BLAMING THEIR HISTORIES.
 
And the question everybody is affraid to ask is this. Is this the effect of Apartheid, or the cause?
 
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