Dr Sarah Hughes, chief executive of the mental health charity Mind, stated that the sector has failed to properly address the risk of violence from a subset of individuals with severe mental illnesses. Speaking ahead of the conclusion of an inquiry into fatal stabbing attacks in Nottingham, Hughes indicated that mental health charities have avoided this discussion due to concerns about increasing stigma and discrimination against people with mental health conditions.
The inquiry examines events leading to attacks where 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, along with 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates, were fatally stabbed by Valdo Calocane. Calocane was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after admitting three counts of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. Evidence presented to the inquiry documented Calocane’s history of violent incidents, repeated medication refusal, and four sectioning orders within two years.
Hughes emphasized that while the majority of people with mental health conditions do not commit violent crimes, some do, with grave consequences. She noted that mental health organizations must become more comfortable discussing violence risks while maintaining efforts to reduce stigma. Hughes acknowledged that fear of deepening discrimination has led the sector to avoid difficult conversations about this topic.
Emma Webber, whose son was killed, endorsed Hughes’s statement and expressed that danger to others has been downplayed in discussions about mental health. Seena Fazel, a forensic psychiatry professor at the University of Oxford, noted that while people with schizophrenia have elevated violence risk compared to the general population, the absolute risk remains small and can be reduced through available treatments.
Mind plans to introduce a mental health strategy addressing support for those with severe mental illnesses while considering public safety, including adequate hospital beds, assertive outreach, and improved service accountability and communication. Hughes stated that recognizing patient and public safety as complementary goals is essential for improving the mental health system.
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