Dont Wait Until Its Too Late: 5 Risky Behaviors Indicating Potential Violence and What to Do If You See Them Around You

The Department of Mental Health has introduced the SMI-V Scan (Serious Mental Illness–Violence Scanning), a guideline to observe severe psychiatric symptoms in patients or individuals with substance abuse histories who are at risk of violent behavior. This encourages society to watch carefully and help prevent harm before it’s too late. The following are warning signs and recommended actions upon encountering such behaviors.

Five dangerous behavioral signs that require vigilance

If you notice one or more of the following warning behaviors, you should begin to be cautious and take immediate action to help.

• Insomnia: Disturbed sleep patterns cause physical exhaustion, leading to brain fatigue and reduced self-control.
• Pacing: Restlessness, agitation, and pacing around as if facing intense stress.
• Talking to oneself: Muttering, responding, or conversing with oneself, possibly due to auditory hallucinations or delusions.
• Irritability: Unusually quick temper, easily angered, with strong reactions to minor issues.
• Paranoia : Viewing others with distrust, believing others intend harm, or feeling unsafe constantly.

Additionally, watch for four more risky behaviors that may indicate potential violence: aggression, alcohol addiction, conflicts with family members, or expressing thoughts of harming oneself or others.

What to do when encountering individuals exhibiting these behaviors

If you observe anyone nearby or in your community showing these warning signs, the Department of Mental Health advises the following steps.

• Don’t ignore the situation: If you notice risky behavior, provide assistance immediately to reduce the chance of violent incidents.
• Listen: Openly and empathetically listen to the individual.
• Notify authorities or relevant agencies: Contact local authorities or related agencies promptly so they can assess symptoms, evaluate risk, and provide proper care.
• Use consultation hotlines: You can call the Mental Health Hotline 1323, available 24 hours for mental health support.

The key to helping is observing and notifying authorities to ensure patients access correct and safe care. This is not about stigmatizing or assuming all psychiatric patients will be violent.

Source: Thai Health Promotion Foundation (สสส.)