PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER & MENTAL ILLNESS ON THE WORKPLACE Bram B. van der Meer Investigative Psychologist Director, Van der Meer Investigative Psychologists ASIS, The Hague April 2014
OFFENDER PROFILING
TOPICS UNDER THE WORKPLACE VIOLENCE UMBRELLA Bullying Stalking Sexual harassment Threats, threatening communications Concerning and/or abnormal behavior Psychiatric disorder Suicide and suicide prevention False allegations & statement reliability assessment Public figure (CEO) threat assessment Mass murder
INFORMATION Collecting Assessing Reliability analysis THREAT ASSESSMENT Interviewing Psychological evaluation THREAT MANAGEMENT Setting up threat management teams
Organizations are communities. They are also crucibles for inevitable conflict, stress, disappointment, and loss. Workplace violence is a discouraging accompaniment to modern organizational life. Violence is often driven by revenge, mental disorder, unbearable losses, or extreme perceptions, and possible anywhere. No workplace can presume to be immune. Lesser but serious forms of aggression assaults, stalking, bullying, intimidation and harassment vary from industry to industry, but are found in all organizations of any size. Regardless of the actual risk a situation may present, the fear created by threatening behavior is very common and costly.
NEWS Workplace Violence Four people are dead after a gun rampage at a factory in Switzerland. Seven more were wounded in the attack, which occurred just after nine o clock in the morning. It is believed the assailant a 42-year-old worker at the factory was among the dead. Three people died at the scene and a fourth person succumbed later in hospital to injuries. 1. t i n g - 0 & e i = x - I0UYSPNJLL0AX8hoHwDQ&bvm=bv. 43148975,d.d2k&psig=AFQjCNFupLOncB8p_ y D o C M - F f c b V E - WDEA&ust=1362506394369281
Organizations are communities. They are also crucibles for inevitable conflict, stress, disappointment, and loss. Workplace violence is a discouraging accompaniment to modern organizational life. Violence is often driven by revenge, mental disorder, unbearable losses, or extreme perceptions, and possible anywhere. No workplace can presume to be immune. Lesser but serious forms of aggression assaults, stalking, bullying, intimidation and harassment vary from industry to industry, but are found in all organizations of any size. Regardless of the actual risk a situation may present, the fear created by threatening behavior is very common and costly.
DELUSIONAL DISORDER & SCHIZOPHRENIA ASSESS RISK USE THE PAINTING
DELUSIONAL DISORDER & SCHIZOPHRENIA v Disordered contact with reality, with the outside world v Hallucinations v Delusions v Bizarre statements or communications v Deterioration of personal hygiene v Paranoia v Unrealistic fears of being harmed or conspired against v Anxiety
CASE EXAMPLE
WORKPLACE RISK v Loss of productivity v Feelings of fear amongst colleagues v Suicide risk v Violence risk v Continuing threats and querulous behavior
MOOD DISDORDER ASSESS RISK USE THE PAINTING
MOOD DISORDER v Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness v Loss of appetite, interest in daily activities v Sleep changes v Anger and irritability v Loss of energy v Strong feelings of worthlessness v Social isolation v Concentration problems
CASE EXAMPLE
WORKPLACE RISK v Loss of productivity v Talking about harming one s self causes fear amongst others v Suicide risk v Reckless behaviour v Reckless spending & high risk transactions (bipolar disorder)
PERSONALITY DISDORDER ASSESS RISK USE THE PAINTING
THREAT MANAGEMENT Many cases can be screened or assessed as not presenting a risk of violence with a minimum of expert time and expense. The sooner a case of concern is identified and addressed, the more likely it can be managed successfully. Emergencies needing prompt security responses do occur, but few cases pose an imminent, immediate risk. Effective threat management is multi-disciplinary, typically involving human resources, security, employment law, assessment and incident management specialists. Sometimes psychiatric care and specialized assessment is necessary.
Bram B. van der Meer Investigative Psychologist Van der Meer Investigative Psychologists +31 6 270 388 65 VANDERMEER@VDM- IP.COM