@Terry,
I think we need to deal with things as they are.
The reality is,sometimes mental illness issues(or Dementia etc) are involved in "bad behaviour"(crime).
In other cases though,people use mental illness to excuse their actions to get lesser court sentences when they do have the capacity for self control and personal responsibility(eg:footballers or other people in the public eye).
I think the focus should not be trying to state to the "public" that there is no connection/involvement ever between mental illnesses and any crimes,but instead should be how to remove the stigma that people have towards people when this happens.
I think that's the real issue.The way that the media often reports these crimes is using words that cause fear,disdain,judgement & stigma.
Changing media reporting styles alone won't solve the problem with stigma though as it doesn't change it at the "rooot cause"-ie peoples internal feelings.
There needs to be much greater awareness made that the brain is an organ just like any other and if soemthing happens to the behavioural parts of the brain,then that persons actions can change drastically,but they are a victim to this process and it should be treated much more compassionately and sensitively.
Regarding pressure on kids from families-sometimes its cultural because foreign-born parents are wanting to push to acheive the opportunities they didnt have themselves growing up,but in the cases of non foreign born i believe it goes higher up then the parent/s and is an Australian cultural problem we have which the Government strongly contributes to.
Kids and parents are being taught what matters most and makes you more valued is how competitive and high achieving you are.Often people in positions such as doctors and so on are given more value,priviledges and prestige than blue collar workers (labourers,cleaners etc)in society and treated as smarter,higher and more valueable etc.
