Crazy British Gangs

Sometimes, it’s nice to know the Brits are very much like us… Sometimes, it isn’t. After reports from the DOD confirm that suicide rates among serving and retired American military veterans exceeds civilian averages, I was not exactly surprised to learn that there is a parallel reality among British soldiers as well. Well, not exactly. While more UK servicemen died from suicide than were killed fighting in Afghanistan, it seemed that post-traumatic stress disorder was less of a factor than in the United States.

“BBC Panorama learned that 21 serving soldiers killed themselves last year, along with 29 veterans… The Afghanistan death toll was 44, of whom 40 died in action… The [Ministry of Defence] said that rates of suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within the serving military were lower than comparative rates in the civilian population.” BBC.co.uk, July 14^th. Interesting, but there was another report from jolly olde England suggesting the PTSD was taking its toll on an entirely different segment of British society.

In a completely unrelated matter, a British university study found a startling correlation between gang membership and mental illness, including a disproportionate finding of PTSD among those who have been constantly exposed to the violence that gang membership seems to require. “The research team from Queen Mary, University of London, started by surveying 4,664 men aged between 18 and 34 in Britain. [Among that group, it] surveyed 108 gang members and found that half had an anxiety disorder, more than 85% a personality disorder and 25% screened positive for psychosis… From the total sample, 3,284 said they had not been violent in the past five years, 1,272 said they had assaulted another person or been involved in a fight and 108 said they were currently in a gang.” BBC.co.uk, July 12^th.

You would have to assume that aside from the callousness and insensitivity that must arise from the constant infliction of pain and violence on others, these symptoms are hardly just UK phenomena. While a comparable study has not been conducted in the United States, the University of London findings are very likely to be replicated here as well.

“Prof Jeremy Coid, lead study author and director of the forensic psychiatry research unit at Queen Mary, University of London, explained the likely cause… ‘It is probable that, among gang members, high levels of anxiety disorder and psychosis were explained by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the most frequent psychiatric outcome of exposure to violence.’… He said the fear of future violence and victimisation led young men to experience extreme anxiety.

The study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, said: ‘Readiness to retaliate violently if disrespected, excitement from violence, and short-term benefits from instrumental violence lead to further cycles of violence and risk of violent victimisation.’…The study also found that, of the 108 gang members surveyed, around a third had attempted suicide.

“The authors said this could be linked ‘to the notion that impulsive violence may be directed both outward and inward.’… However depression was significantly less common among gang members and violent men, the study found.

“Andy Bell, deputy chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health, said they had carried out their own research in this area and found very high rates of multiple health and social issues in both boys and girls in gangs… ‘It is very clear they have numerous problems throughout their lives, often related to drug, alcohol problems and maltreatment at home - and they all contribute to poor mental health…One vulnerability leads to another. The earlier they are dealt with the better - but sadly opportunities are often missed.’” BBC.co.uk, July 12^th.

Add free access to drug to this volatile mix, throw in an American culture that worships gun ownership, blend in horrific high school dropout rates and you get absurd murder rate in inner cities. In some gang-infested African American communities, 20% of the younger adult males have been incarcerated, further decimating their future economic prospects… for those who even live long enough to have a future. We can continue to draw “don’t go there” circles around these neighborhoods, cut our public education budgets and allow the NRA to continue to proselytize the benefits of widespread gun ownership … and as the Bible says, we will indeed reap what we sow.

I’m Peter Dekom, and pretending that this is a problem for others, burying our heads in the sand, will only make matters much worse.