How mental health and race can play into a tragedy like the UT stabbing
“In addition to being young and black, both Criner and White struggle with mental illness. People who are involved in the justice system, like Criner and White are now, are more likely to have a history of mental illness and suffer from trauma due to past abuse. According to the Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights, more than half of inmates meet criteria for mental illness, but few receive mental health treatment while incarcerated. A growing body of research suggests that factors beyond individual genes and behaviors, such as income, education and discrimination, are strongly related to health, including mental health. Studies suggest that about 40 percent of our health is due to these social factors. According to the World Health Organization, risk factors for many common mental illnesses are strongly associated with systemic social inequalities. The greater the inequality, the higher the risk. Chronic stress and discrimination based on race are among the risk factors. Put simply, being black itself is a risk factor.”