The Significance of Mental Illness
Capacity in relation to Crime in Hong Kong
Mental illness and crime are arguably perceived to have close or even causal relation, partly because of the overrepresentation of offenders with mental issues in the criminal justice system. In view of this, under the influence of bias and prejudice, some people may unfortunately hold a hostile attitude towards people with mental illness and consider them as potential threats in society. The situation is apparent when it comes to diseases that the public are unfamiliar with, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, to name a few. Nonetheless, whether there is a relation between crime and mental illness is still in doubt.