RELEVANT FOCUSED READY The Connection Between Mental Illness and Youth Violence in Canada Hope Steeves Introduction Despite the prevalence of mental illness among youth offenders, there is a lack of formal research on whether or not mental illness is in fact the cause of violent youth offending. It is known that incarcerated youth have high rates of mental illness, but correlation does not always equal causation (Drerup et al., 2008). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to uncover which specific mental illnesses lead to violent youth offending, or if there is in fact a causal link between the two. From there, early intervention and treatment may be used to prevent criminal activity and/or re-offending. The research question this study attempts to answer is: how do pre-existing mental illnesses contribute to youth violence in Canada? Additionally, a sub-question posed is: are certain mental health problems linked to specific sub-categories of violent offending? The underlying philosophical worldview in this research paper is transformative. The transformative worldview emphasizes the importance of accounting for marginalized groups, such as those with a mental illness (Creswell & Creswell, 2017). Discussion The most important finding across the literature is that a dual-diagnosis increases the risk of violence (Guebert & Olver, 2014). A dual-diagnosis, or concurrent disorder, is when substance abuse issues and any other form of mental illness occur at the same time. Figure 2. A flow chart demonstrating how mental illness leads to violent youth offending. Substance abuse Dualdiagnosis Background The Canadian Mental Health Association [CMHA] defines a mental illness as disturbances in thoughts, feelings and perceptions that are severe enough to affect day to day functioning, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, anorexia, substance abuse and others (CMHA, 2021). For many young individuals, mental health issues and criminal offending are inextricably linked. More specifically, over 90% of justice involved youth in Canada meet minimal diagnostic criteria for at least one disorder (Drerup et al., 2008). Furthermore, only one in five Canadian children who need mental health services actually receives them (CMHA, 2021). Therefore, in order to reduce youth violence in Canada, a critical step is determining whether or not mental illness as at the root of this problem. Increased risk of offending Mental illness Research on what causes concurrent disorders demonstrates that both genetic and epigenetic influences, as well as environmental factors, can be used as predictors (Robinson et al., 2021). Sometimes, a mental illness can cause substance abuse issues, and other times substance abuse issues can trigger the onset of a mental illness. Regardless, these two things often occur simultaneously. Roughly 50 percent of individuals with severe mental disorders Methods are affected by substance abuse; and the same is true in reverse, about half of This study was a critical appraisal of existing literature. More specifically, 15 all alcohol and drug abusers will develop at least one serious mental illness scholarly sources and several other reputable websites were used to answer the throughout the course of their lives (Robinson et al., 2021). Overall, knowing research question. There was no need for primary or secondary research to be that a dual-diagnosis causes youth offending, and the likelihood that one conducted, as it was confirmed through an extensive search process that there is disorder will lead to concurrent disorders, this is an issue that requires special sufficient information contained within existing sources. Furthermore, due to attention. discrepancies in the literature, a critical appraisal was best suited for this study. This allowed for similarities, differences, and gaps in the literature to be Conclusion and Recommendations identified with a broad range of participants and locations examined. To obtain Through this analysis of existing literature it can be confirmed that mental sufficient sources, both the JIBC library and Google Scholar were utilized. The illness does in fact have a causal connection to youth offending. More table below documents the inclusion and exclusion criteria input. specifically, a dual-diagnosis significantly increases the risk an individual will offend and re-offend. Genetic and environmental factors specific to individuals Figure 1. A chart demonstrating the inclusion and exclusion criteria used to can be used to determine whether or not someone will develop a dualobtain sources. diagnosis in their lifetime. Often, there are revelatory signs that present themselves early on in life. These signs can be used to direct individuals to appropriate means of treatment in order to prevent, or even reverse, the Inclusion Criteria Exclusion Criteria effects mental illness. In order for this to happen, providing education on the signs and symptoms of mental illness, as well as making treatment options English, full-text articles Not available in English/full-text more available in an informed way is key. In terms of future research, conducting studies on which specific programs have been successful in dealing Dated 2003 onwards, in accordance Dated prior to 2003 with each sub-category of mental illness, specifically in Canadian youth, would with the implementation of the Youth be beneficial. This way, young individuals struggling with mental illness can be Criminal Justice Act directed to a form of treatment that is known to work, and another important Includes information on youth Did not include information on youth step towards reducing youth violence can be taken. offending and/or mental illness offending and/or mental illness References Results/Findings In the studies analyzed there were several overarching themes and ideas presented, with regard to mental illness and youth offending. Key findings demonstrated across various sources include: A) A direct causal connection between certain categories of mental illness and violent offending. B) Mental illness alone is not sufficient to predict violent offending, but when coupled with other societal factors or pre-existing conditions it is. C) Individuals with mental illness are significantly more likely to reoffend once already in the system, compared to those with no pre-existing conditions. However, the outcomes of each individual study were analyzed specifically with the research question and scope of the paper in mind. Therefore, the results of certain studies were more valuable than others. Among the studies that best suited the criteria of this research paper, the key findings were that substance abuse significantly predicts offending in youth, and substance abuse coupled with any other form of mental illness heightens that risk significantly (Guebert & Olver, 2014). Bachelor of Law Enforcement Studies Canadian Mental Health Association (2021). Mental health: What is it, really? https://cmha.ca/mental-health-what-is-it-really/ Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design (5th ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc. https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781506386690 Drerup, L. C., Croysdale, A., & Hoffmann, N. G. (2008). Patterns of behavioural health conditions among adolescents in a juvenile justice system. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 39, 122–128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.39.2.122 Guebert, A. & Olver, M. (2014). An examination of criminogenic needs, mental health concerns, and recidivism in a sample of violent young offenders: Implications for risk, need, and responsivity. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 13(4), 295-310. https://doi.org/10.1080/14999013.2014.955220 Robinson, L., Smith, M., & Segal, J. (2021). Dual diagnosis: Substance abuse and mental health. HelpGuide. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/substance-abuse-and-mentalhealth.htm Justice Institute of British Columbia April 2022