RAN Case Study video: A mental health approach to understanding and preventing violent extremism

04.10.2019

Photo: Radicalisation Awareness Network YT video screenshot

In recent years, practitioners working in the field of preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) have pointed to a potential link between mental health disorders on one side, and radicalisation on the other. Practitioners need to examine mental health disorders in a nuanced and specific way and identify functional links between specific aspects of the mental health disorder and specific ways that this contributed to their patients’ pathways to extremism.

We can observe a greater prevalence of mental health disorders amongst terrorists due to on-line entry, mass recruitment tactics and higher exposure to threats, grievances and propaganda. There is a sense of urgency to do more to prevent vulnerable individuals with mental health disorders from joining terrorist groups or committing terrorist acts in the name of a terrorist organisation. Meet Johan, our case study.

Source: Radicalisation Awareness Network

Click here to watch the video.