Are mentally ill people that dangerous, and can you ever be friends with them?

Question

I work in a residential place for the mentally ill. I read through cases and cases of young mentally ill people and it's quite shocking what kind of things happen: Stabbings, suicide attempts, sexual acts, rape, biting, fighting with staff, trying to harm stuff, verbal assaults, etc etc.

It's understandable because of the mental problems but does it mean then, that regular people can never have a good friendship with a mentally ill person because that person might kill us or do something really bad to us?

Answer 1

A depressed person is mentally ill, and you're probably already friends with one or two of them. I think, in general, it would depend on the illness and how under control it is. It would also depend on you. I've known a couple of manic-depressives, and they can be exhausting, even when they're being treated.

I think with the sort of people you're likely to meet at a residential place, it'll be even trickier. If they're under treatment and you're understanding of their condition, I think it'd be perfectly possible to be their friend. You have to make allowances for everyone, mentally healthy or not. I have to say, though, I don't know what the percentages of mentally ill people are violent towards others, but I think it's a lot less than you're fearing. If everyone who was crazy was also violent, then New York City and my family would have a lot fewer people.

Answer 2

i guess it all depends on the illness. But coming from some one who recently found out she was mentally ill, i can tell you that i am of no danger to any one. i have paranoid schizophrenia, insomnia, anxiety and depression. But it is all due to things that have happen to me in my life and i understand where it is coming from i take only 2 meds and feel a lot better as far as being afraid all the time and i can sleep now. my anxiety and depression are still there but getting better. if some one is going to go crazy there may never be any sign showing it, and the craziest person just might have it all in there head and wouldn't hurt a fly.
you know how they always say on TV and police report that the killer or rapist next door seemed like such a normal quiet guy. I think we are all capable of doing crazy things but weather we will or not may not be something we can predict. That person might say i would never hurt or rape someone but do we ever really know.NO. sad but true. go with your gut instinct i think, and treat each case as an individual.

Answer 3

Interesting question; Complicated answer.

To make it short - Everyone needs a friend, mentally ill people included. I would always stay cautious and since you work with them I would not tell them much about yourself. You could be a good listener or just someone who is friendly enough to not look away when you pass them.

Good Luck

Answer 4

It depends, there are so many types of mentall illnesses, you just have to be sure of what you are dealing with, but yes some illnesses are worse than others,and can be dangerous. I myself suffer from OCD, have panic or anxiety attacks, but would not hurt a fly, unless I was defending myself, but I have some good friends, that deal with my problems just as I do.

Answer 5

People who aren't diagnosed with mental illnesses do bad things too. Many people with psychological problems can control their problems by proper use of prescribed medications and/or therapy. Avoiding developing friendships with such people could potentially make their condition worse. They are ill, but they are still people and many mentally ill are just as likely to attack someone they don't know as they are someone that they do know.

Answer 6

It depends on the severity of the mental illness. You are around people with severe mental illnesses, but people who don't have such severe ones can still be great friends AND harmless to society.

Answer 7

My brother dated a lady for 5+ years who is bipolar. She's developed good strategy for meeting people and holding their attention. She's always on her "high" around new people and situations. But as soon as her "low" hits it usually involves the police. From attempted suicide in her daycare (yes I said daycare), to horrible phone calls, to having several men a week in her bed (info via her son). I guess it just depends on how much of yourself you can give to that friendship. Me, it's not worth going to jail or being harmed.

Answer 8

Depends on the illness but you can be friends. Meds help alot in most cases.

Answer 9

its all a matter of THEIR interpretation of whether you'll ever be a threat. they see a threat as something that a normal person would never see as a threat and they attack in ways that are self-mutilation or hurting others for ways of working through the threat.

it's all perception.