I agree that there is stigma surrounding schizophrenia regarding violence. However, there are some cases where there is violence as a result of this illness (likewise with other illnesses I'm sure). I met and became friends with a girl in the psych hospital who had schizophrenia, and had tried to kill her brother as a direct result of the illness.

So while I agree that it's wrong to generalize and stigmatize an illness, we do also have to acknowledge the possible dangers of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses too. I personally think that those of us with mental illness are more likely to be a danger to ourselves though, not others. This is why treatment is so important!

**Just wanted to add too, in response to brookwest's post, that I agree there is definitely a difference between a violent crime committed by someone who is mentally ill (schizophrenia or something else), and someone who is "mentally stable" and commits a violent crime.**