Too many people are stuck with the label of ‘criminal’ when in reality, society failed them rather than the other way around…
A dive into chapter 11 of my new book, Snowflake…
Chapter 11 of my new book, Snowflake, is probably the one I am most proud of. After working in housing, mental health and recovery for so long, and meeting so many people who have been unfairly tainted with the label of ‘criminal’ after finding themselves in hard times, the criminal justice system and the links between mental health and offending have greatly interested me…
We are very quick to remind people that mental illness does not predict a likelihood towards offending or criminal behaviour - and this is undoubtedly true. The majority of people with mental health problems, just like the majority of people generally, do not offend.
But within the prison system, a huge proportion of prisoners will have experienced a mental health problem or traumatic life experience - and many will be behind bars for repeat petty offending. In fact, it’s probably difficult to untangle the complexities that many people in prison have gone through and survived, because there could be so many contributing factors (neurodiversity, mental health problems, learning difficulties, poverty, trauma, abuse…)
Could you survive such trauma or adversity? Could I?
When we talk about privilege we must consider it from all angles. As a white, middle class woman, I know that I am privileged. At times, growing up and finding my feet, I felt that life was unfair. But that’s because I had no other reference point.
I woke up feeling grumpy about having to get to school on time. But I never woke up scared of my own family.
I complained about the lumpy mashed potato we had for tea. But I never went hungry.
I fell out with other kids. But they never put a knife to my throat.
When I drank my first bottle of Diamond White I did it out of curiosity, not necessity.
Imagine if I was so scared and hungry that blacking out was the only way to deal with childhood or adolescence...
It’s hard to imagine these things when we’ve grown up feeling protected. When we’re living as adults in comfortable and happy homes. And for a long time, such challenging situations never even crossed my mind.
Not until I interviewed women who had been raped or beaten. Until I met men who never once felt safe in their family home growing up…
That’s why I was so keen to look at the prison system and the label of criminality in my book about mental health stigma. We can’t just argue for a sanitised version of mental health to be openly discussed and de-stigmatised. Mental health is more than just mild to moderate depression or anxiety. Within depression or anxiety the illness can get incredibly ugly, and, sadly, we know it can be fatal. And some mental health problems conjure fear just by speaking their name - schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, schizoaffective disorder, addiction, postpartum psychosis…
Of course, I explore all of these in the book too - psychosis and addiction are two hugely stigmatised problems and have chapters dedicated to them to dispel the myths.
But one thing I think we have completely shied away from in the wider mental health conversation is criminality - which is so often linked to survival. And I believe the issue is that the criminal justice system is home not only to violent criminals, but also to people who are struggling with mental illness, trauma and, generally, complex and chaotic backgrounds.
When you start to look into this, you can see that many people have been failed by society - rather than the other way around. Not having the right support in school, or access to mental health services or adequate food and drink can all contribute to the development of poor coping mechanisms. And it is these issues that can result in behaviours leading to a criminal record.
For this chapter I worked with Beverley Hunter, a research lead for Fulfilling Lives, Richy Cunningham who has spent many years working in the criminal justice system, as well as Catrina McHugh, Artistic Director of women’s theatre company, Open Clasp - who regularly works with women who have experience of the criminal justice system.
I think the reason I am so proud of the chapter is not only because I was able to play a small part in shining a light on this issue, but also because I personally learnt so much from my brilliant contributors, as well as from people who had personal experience of the criminal justice system and mental illness, who put their trust in me and were happy to chat to me about it.
We will never know it all - so we must always listen before judging someone.
The book also explores psychosis, depression, personality disorders, psychiatric hospitals, resilience, medication and so much more. But please, if you buy it do be sure to read chapter 11. I really hope it will enable us to think more about our privilege and how lucky we are to have had safe homes or supportive networks around us.
Not everyone is so lucky.