ABSTRACT
Although people with mental illness are more likely to be the victims, not the perpetrators, of violence, the risk of assault for trainees and employees in the helping professions is higher compared to other vocations and deserves our attention. Mental health professionals sometimes experience harassment, property damage, threats, and stalking, with a smaller percentage experiencing physical assault. We address the importance of learning to cope with aggression, distinguishing between strange and dangerous behavior, understanding developmental differences, and recognizing motivational factors, history, stress, substances, mental illness, and the role of weapons in assessing the risk of violence. Next, we discuss ways to try to prevent violence, including when it is imminent, and the role organizations can serve in these efforts. We explore pragmatic tactics to decrease the likelihood of being the victim of an assault and emphasize the importance of managing our online presence, particularly with social media, to maximize privacy and minimize the amount and type of information available electronically.
