Crime is a very personal experience which can have long-lasting psychological effects in addition to being a social and legal problem. Following a crime, individuals and societies affected by it in the UK often undergo emotional, psychological, and physical complications, long after the event has occurred. The psychological price could be quite high, starting with violent crimes and going on to fraud, burglary and antisocial behaviour. The presence of numerous events of the victims, who are obliged to write a Crime Impact Statement UK, which is a legal tool for specifying the influence of an event in their lives, proves the close correlation between crime and mental health.
Victim support, improved services to the populace, and the creation of less vulnerable communities all rely on understanding the relationship between crime and mental health. Entire neighbourhoods, families and bystanders may also remain distressed; it is not only the immediate affected who feel the effects. Crime may influence mental health by obstructing the person in terms of security, trust and control, which are vital aspects of mental health.
Psychological Crimes Experienced By An Individual After Committing The Crime
Experts define psychological damage as the psychological consequences experienced by an individual after committing a crime or witnessing the crime. One of the most common impacts of crime on the psychology of the human mind is psychological trauma. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an activity that can take place among sexual violence, assault, robbery, and domestic abuse victims. Some of the symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness.
As the personal space of the victim and even the feeling of security have been established, even the non-violent crimes, such as burglaries, can be a stressful occurrence. Trauma-related disorders are also gaining wide recognition in the UK as a major result of criminal acts. Simple tasks such as going out or engaging with other individuals may push the victims towards stress, and they may have a hard time getting back to their normal routine. Unless these psychological injuries are managed, they can take a long time.
Fear of 2nd victimisation and Fear of anxiety.
The perpetrators often enter into a state of constant nervousness. In victims, a constant fear that the event can recur might arise. This occurs mostly in scenarios where there is violence, harassment or stalking in the neighbourhood and the threat appears to be imminent and unanticipated. Existing in a hypervigilant condition may lead to irritability, inability to focus as well as sleep disturbances. The consequences of chronic anxiety may affect relationship health, mental condition, and work performance. Collective fear can also be saw even among those who were not directly impacted by the crime in locations where the perceived danger affects the overall state of many residents adversely.
Loss of Control and Depression.
The other crucial impact of crime is depression. Depressive, hopeless and bored feelings are very common amongst the victims. Criminals can make people feel such a sense of helplessness when they feel that justice has not been served or their lives have been changed irreversibly. Mental health can be particularly affected negatively by fraud and other financial offences. They may feel embarrassed, guilty or even ashamed; something that may stop the victims of the act from receiving help. In severe cases, prolonged stressful painful experiences may lead to clinical depression, which would require the services of a doctor.
Impasses on Children and Young People.
Children and young people are especially subject to the adverse effects of crime on their mental health. Exposure to violence in society or at home might impede the development of emotions. Teenagers who watch crimes might develop anxiety, aggression, or isolation. In the UK, schools and youth services are increasingly aware of the need to deliver the provision of trauma-informed care. The children affected by crime, if they are not provided with early care, may develop long-term mental health problems, including anxiety disorders, behavioural problems, and the inability to build positive relationships.
Social Isolation and Relationship Stress.
Crime may break the trust of people towards each other. The victims may withdraw to their friends and relatives, avoid taking part in public places or engage in social activities. The isolation may worsen the mental health problem ,which leads to a vicious circle in which loneliness increases anxiety and sadness. Moreover, the relationships can be estranged. Family members might find it hard to understand the emotional changes that a victim is experiencing. Cases of domestic abuse could also affect the wellness of victims due to helplessness, fear and absence of support mechanisms.
Conclusion
Crime has extensive consequences in addition to the physical or financial injury it causes. It has a major influence on the psychological well-being of a person in the UK, affecting relationships, emotions, behaviour and general well-being. The psychological effects may be many and enduring as this may become worry and stress, even despair and social isolation.
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