Anders Behring Breivik declared not mentally ill

Anders Behring Brevik has been declared 'sane'

By Charlotte Fantelli

Anyone who reads Mental Healthy on a regular basis will know that we have run story after story fighting the common misconception that those who commit evil acts must be in some way ‘mentally ill’.

It seems that not a sickening criminal act passes by the press without some media pundit becoming a wannabe psychiatrist, sensationalising the crime with ‘mental’ speculations.

This week (August 2012) the evil acts of Anders Behring Brevik have been shown for what they are – despicable and sickening, straight from the mind of a malicious man that carried out the deeds with prior forethought. This is not only a ruling that should help towards the breakdown of stigma and confusion surrounding mental illness, but also one that will also allow his deeds to be punished accordingly.

I wrote a piece on Anders Breivik, evil and mental illness when the initial hearing tried to determine his state of mind. It was a piece that inflamed some and voiced the opinions of many more. Both sides of the fence agreed the man was evil, but was this associated with mental illness? I very much hope that this ruling, helps separate ‘badness’ and ‘madness’ and goes some way to breaking down media and the public misconception.

I hope also that being punished for the crimes he committed in the criminal justice system, as opposed to the mental health system, means we are a step closer to a justice that will sadly never remove the pain of the crime. After all, so many of us that suffer with mental health conditions (who have never committed acts of evil) are so often denied the help needed due to the lacking of mental health services.

Dr. Simon Wessely, of King’s College London, stated: “Everyone’s first assumption is that Breivik must be insane because he’s done such terrible things, but it doesn’t automatically follow that he must be mad just because what he has done is inexplicable.”

Wessely also said of Breivik’s acts: “It doesn’t tally with the kinds of disorganised crimes usually committed by people with mental health problems.”

While Tad Tietze of the University of New South Wales says: "People imply that mental-health patients are capable of these acts. They don't deserve to be associated with a fascist mass killer."

"We have to name his ideas for what they are," says Tietze.

It is my genuine hope that this is a step towards the separation of evil and mental illness, with media taking note that the two should not be portrayed as hand-in-hand. However, sadly, looking at the amount of coverage this ruling has had, in comparison to the initial ‘psycho’ headlines, I am a little dubious…

Have your say below:

Add new comment

Comments

rvjsYazZWBKJZkZsU

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 20/03/2021 - 01:11.

An estate agents http://www.abe.iastate.edu/?s=PayPal%20Online%20Pharmacy%20%E2%AD%90%20www.HealthMeds.online%20%E2%AD%90%20Comprar%20Cialis%20Pagar%20Con%20Paypal comprar cialis pagar con paypal The North suddenly agreed to dialogue in June that would have led to the resumption of high-level talks for the first time in six years. However, plans for that meeting collapsed over seemingly minor protocol issues.

AJhPpKYqUFAnHiSuCyV

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 20/03/2021 - 01:10.

Could I have an application form? https://cehn.org/?s=Best%20Essay%20Writing%20Service%20%F0%9F%8E%93www.WriteMyPaper.online%20%F0%9F%8E%93Write%20Essay%20Fast%20-%20Write%20Essay%20Cheap write essay cheap For Hugh adapted without blinking – except when his father smeared baby sun cream into his eye. Even then there were no tears. And no swearing unspeakable oaths through gritted teeth either. Everyone was much too content for that.

OaqBRohVuXtaj

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 20/03/2021 - 01:10.

Sorry, you must have the wrong number http://www.mythicalpeloponnese.gr/?s=Best%20Essay%20Writing%20Service%20%F0%9F%8E%93www.WriteMyPaper.online%20%F0%9F%8E%93Write%20Essay%20Cheap%20-%20Write%20Essay%20Fast write essay cheap Earlier this month, anti-immigration campaigners were angered by Migrationwatch claims that immigration figures have been undercounted. The group said that the number ofÃÂ Ã¢ÂÂEU immigrants has been undercounted by half a million over a 10-year periodÃ¢ÂÂ. It claimed on Thursday that the revised numbers would mean around four million extra migrants in Britain.

MXWnqEROKRrYX

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 20/03/2021 - 01:10.

We were at school together https://ozaukee.extension.wisc.edu/?s=PayPal%20Online%20Pharmacy%20%E2%AD%90%20www.HealthMeds.online%20%E2%AD%90%20Cialis%20Fedex%20-%20Cialis%20Per%20Paypal%20Kaufen cialis fedex He fears hiring normal retail staff has been a mistake. “You sell a pair of pants and never see the guy again. This is different. You need to nurture the customer. We haven’t cracked it yet but it took us four years to open a second store in South Africa.”

QAEzFwHOyxFekK

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 20/03/2021 - 01:10.

I came here to study http://kkreation.co.in/?s=Best%20Essay%20Writing%20Service%20%F0%9F%8E%93www.WriteMyPaper.online%20%F0%9F%8E%93Write%20Essay%20Cheap%20-%20Write%20Essay%20Fast write essay cheap Gatti had "told everyone to 'Bring your team, this is our only chance to do this.' " They all assembled at the players' entrance, and "I gave them Kanye's vision. They thought this was a surprise for Kim's birthday. Even the people running the Jumbotron control didn't know until the last minute what we were going to put on there."

lSMODYWQWGUBDQ

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 20/03/2021 - 00:15.

I was made redundant two months ago http://nanhekadamfoundation.in/?s=Viagra%20Approved%20Pharmacy%20%E2%AD%90%20www.HealthMeds.online%20%E2%AD%90%20Cheap%20Viagra%20Online%20-%20Buy%20Viagra%20100mg buy viagra 100mg Bosch was once a close confidante of the steroid-stained slugger, but the self-styled Ã¢ÂÂbiochemistÃ¢ÂÂ agreed to cooperate with MLB after baseball lawyers sued him and several associates in Florida state court earlier this year.

QyGsyRgkNA

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 20/03/2021 - 00:15.

I work for myself http://daraschool.sa.edu.au/?s=Viagra%20Approved%20Pharmacy%20%E2%AD%90%20www.HealthMeds.online%20%E2%AD%90%20Buy%20Viagra%20100mg%20-%20Cheap%20Viagra%20Online buy viagra 100mg John Coates, a Harvard Law School professor who followscorporate governance, said Vanguard's votes are in line with anew consensus among institutional investors that voting againstdirectors puts more pressure on companies than does voting forspecific shareholder proposals.

bdyeXAdMxBXU

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 20/03/2021 - 00:15.

Do you know the address? https://ppe.unc.edu/?s=PayPal%20Online%20Pharmacy%20%E2%AD%90%20www.HealthMeds.online%20%E2%AD%90%20Comprare%20Cialis%20Generico%20Con%20Paypal%20-%20Cialis%20Generika%20Kaufen%20Rezeptfrei%20Seri%C3%B6s%20Paypal comprare cialis generico con paypal First opened in the 1950s with the unfortunate name Uncle TomÃ¢ÂÂs Cabins, the Lido was a Ã¢ÂÂhandyman specialÃ¢ÂÂ when Jim and Patti OÃ¢ÂÂDonnell bought it in 2007. Since then, they have done their best to clean it up and renovate Ã¢ÂÂ but this is no super-luxe beach resort.

sMgLKFKElyFFYXwuiY

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 20/03/2021 - 00:15.

I'm in a band https://ieor.berkeley.edu/?s=PayPal%20Online%20Pharmacy%20%E2%AD%90%20www.HealthMeds.online%20%E2%AD%90%20Viagra%20Spray%20In%20Ksa%20-%20Viagra%20Cialis%20Paiement%20Par%20Paypal viagra spray in ksa I went on a trip as part of an international youth mentoring programme to a place called Nagpur, near Delhi in India, where I witnessed extreme poverty in the streets. I did a similar thing in the shanty towns of South Africa and you expect children living in such circumstances to be a bit hardened, but these kids were everything but that. They were so curious about you and just wanted to say hello. I was very moved by the trip and lectured my own children when I returned home, telling them to embrace all that they have.

FawSMKjxpPrA

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 20/03/2021 - 00:14.

How do you do? https://www.mymrt.com.my/?s=Best%20Essay%20Writing%20Service%20%F0%9F%8E%93www.WriteMyPaper.online%20%F0%9F%8E%93Write%20Essay%20Cheap%20-%20Write%20Essay%20Fast write essay cheap Pemex only successfully contracted half of the six blocksput out to tender, part of Mexico's efforts to find moreinvestment to boost flagging crude output. The two biggestblocks did not even attract bidders, the company said.

JSdLJXstYAyfffi

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 19/03/2021 - 23:17.

I'd like to open a business account https://www.camaldolicultura.it/?s=Cialis%20Approved%20Pharmacy%20%E2%AD%90%20www.HealthMeds.online%20%E2%AD%90%20Cheap%20Cialis%20Online%20-%20Buy%20Cialis%2010mg cheap cialis online Paulson launched a first real estate vehicle, the Real Estate Recovery fund, in 2009, buying up tracts of yet-to-be-developed residential and commercial land around the United States. His firm is currently raising a second real estate fund.

HXEznVqcNpyhGcd

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 19/03/2021 - 23:17.

I'm in my first year at university https://mikelubin.com/?s=Viagra%20Approved%20Pharmacy%20%E2%AD%90%20www.HealthMeds.online%20%E2%AD%90%20Buy%20Viagra%20100mg%20-%20Cheap%20Viagra%20Online buy viagra 100mg It is worth noting, however, that there are, so far, very few concrete details about exactly what will, or won't be allowed in the zone, and what the likely timetable for the roll-out of any reforms might be.

rEKFvrWovsxdqqFuHzJ

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 19/03/2021 - 23:17.

I came here to study http://europeprize.net/?s=Cialis%20Approved%20Pharmacy%20%E2%AD%90%20www.HealthMeds.online%20%E2%AD%90%20Buy%20Cialis%2010mg%20-%20Cheap%20Cialis%20Online buy cialis 10mg Sudeikis plays Dave Clark, a low-level dope dealer who seems to have successfully avoided growing up by perpetually acting like a college kid. Now solidly in his 30s, heÃ¢ÂÂs an easy mark for some kids who roll him one night, stealing his stash.

WVMGOpgPZN

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 19/03/2021 - 23:17.

I'd like to pay this in, please http://michael-kors.cc/?s=Cialis%20Approved%20Pharmacy%20%E2%AD%90%20www.HealthMeds.online%20%E2%AD%90%20Cheap%20Cialis%20Online%20-%20Buy%20Cialis%2010mg cheap cialis online The biggest U.S. bank has launched an internal review of itscommercial-lending clients that could result in the eliminationof relationships with companies such as pawn shops, paydaylenders, check cashers and some car dealerships, the businessdaily said.

EbKWllZwXnJmfGW

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 19/03/2021 - 23:17.

We went to university together http://energy.columbia.edu/?s=PayPal%20Online%20Pharmacy%20%E2%AD%90%20www.HealthMeds.online%20%E2%AD%90%20Comprare%20Cialis%20Generico%20Con%20Paypal%20-%20Comprar%20Cialis%20Generico%20Por%20Paypal comprar cialis generico por paypal These figures lie well within any reasonable confidence interval for deficit forecasts. The most recent comprehensive CBO evaluation found that, leaving aside any errors due to policy changes, the expected error in projections out only five years is 3.5 percent of GDP. Put another way, given the magnitude of forecast uncertainties there is a chance of close to 40 percent that with no new policy actions the ratio of debt-to-GDP will decline over 25 or 75 years.