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High-Risk Reporting
Introduction
Tariq and Gupta (2021) state that high-risk behaviors are “acts that increase the risk of
disease or injury, which can subsequently lead to disability, death, or social problems.” Tariq
and Gupta (2021) also state that violence, tobacco/alcohol use disorders, eating disorders, and
risky sexual behaviors are the most common behaviors considered to be high-risk. This essay
will focus on two behaviors within the violent high-risk category by discussing what makes
them high-risk and what resources can be available to these populations; these two behaviors are
threats to others and domestic violence survivors who have just left their abusive partner.
Danger to Others
As previously stated, a behavior is considered to be high risk when such a behavior can
cause injury or death (Tariq & Gupta, 2021). People who present danger to others, except for
those with dementia, are considered high risk because the threats and/or intentions, possibly
resulting from mental illness or substance use, could potentially cause injury or death to the
person who is being threatened (Law Insider, n.d.); (Oklahoma Bar Association, 2020). When
someone is deemed to be a danger to others, most states have laws in which there is a duty to
warn and/or protect the intended victim(s) (American Psychological Association, 2022). The
duty to protect can result in the involvement of a few outside agencies.
The primary agency that is likely to be involved where there is a danger to others is law
enforcement. Law enforcement involvement falls under a mental health professional’s duty to
protect the intended victim(s) from the threat of harm or death (Guina et al., 2022). It is the
mental health professional’s duty to ensure the protection of the victim, therefore, the mental
health professional should notify the law enforcement agency where the victim lives, where the
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client lives, or both if necessary (American Psychological Association, 2022). The other outside
agency that may become involved with someone deemed a danger to others is a hospital
(American Psychological Association, 2022).
When a client is deemed a threat to others, they can choose to be hospitalized voluntarily.
However, if the client refuses voluntary treatment, and the threat is severe enough, the client can
be placed into involuntary treatment. (Oklahoma Bar Association, 2020). With the latter, clients
are required to be committed for 72 hours, or three days; once this period is over, the courts
determine if the client's time in the hospital should be extended, and the client will be released
only when they are determined to no longer be a threat to the victim(s) (Oklahoma Bar
Association, 2020).
Domestic Violence Survivors
When there is a risk of violence threatening the safety of the self or others, that situation
becomes high risk, and domestic violence survivors who have recently left their abuser combines
both risk of harm to the self and danger to others. The reason that domestic violence survivors
have combined risk is because when they are recently separated, the survivor is exponentially
more likely to fall victim of domestic homicide (Desai et al., 2022). Aside from physical risk,
leaving an abusive relationship affects the victim’s mental health and can result in mental health
issues, physical health problems, and increased stress levels. Included in these risk factors is also
a threat to child safety; the abuser can get courts involved in custody to torment the victim
further and threaten to harm and/or kidnap the child (Logan & Walker, 2004). Because of the
risk to both mother and child safety, two agencies that are likely to be involved with a victim
recently separated from an abusive relationship is a domestic violence advocate and emergency
shelters.
High-Risk Reporting
Introduction
Tariq and Gupta (2021) state that high-risk behaviors are “acts that increase the risk of
disease or injury, which can subsequently lead to disability, death, or social problems.” Tariq
and Gupta (2021) also state that violence, tobacco/alcohol use disorders, eating disorders, and
risky sexual behaviors are the most common behaviors considered to be high-risk. This essay
will focus on two behaviors within the violent high-risk category by discussing what makes
them high-risk and what resources can be available to these populations; these two behaviors are
threats to others and domestic violence survivors who have just left their abusive partner.
Danger to Others
As previously stated, a behavior is considered to be high risk when such a behavior can
cause injury or death (Tariq & Gupta, 2021). People who present danger to others, except for
those with dementia, are considered high risk because the threats and/or intentions, possibly
resulting from mental illness or substance use, could potentially cause injury or death to the
person who is being threatened (Law Insider, n.d.); (Oklahoma Bar Association, 2020). When
someone is deemed to be a danger to others, most states have laws in which there is a duty to
warn and/or protect the intended victim(s) (American Psychological Association, 2022). The
duty to protect can result in the involvement of a few outside agencies.
The primary agency that is likely to be involved where there is a danger to others is law
enforcement. Law enforcement involvement falls under a mental health professional’s duty to
protect the intended victim(s) from the threat of harm or death (Guina et al., 2022). It is the
mental health professional’s duty to ensure the protection of the victim, therefore, the mental
health professional should notify the law enforcement agency where the victim lives, where the
, 3
client lives, or both if necessary (American Psychological Association, 2022). The other outside
agency that may become involved with someone deemed a danger to others is a hospital
(American Psychological Association, 2022).
When a client is deemed a threat to others, they can choose to be hospitalized voluntarily.
However, if the client refuses voluntary treatment, and the threat is severe enough, the client can
be placed into involuntary treatment. (Oklahoma Bar Association, 2020). With the latter, clients
are required to be committed for 72 hours, or three days; once this period is over, the courts
determine if the client's time in the hospital should be extended, and the client will be released
only when they are determined to no longer be a threat to the victim(s) (Oklahoma Bar
Association, 2020).
Domestic Violence Survivors
When there is a risk of violence threatening the safety of the self or others, that situation
becomes high risk, and domestic violence survivors who have recently left their abuser combines
both risk of harm to the self and danger to others. The reason that domestic violence survivors
have combined risk is because when they are recently separated, the survivor is exponentially
more likely to fall victim of domestic homicide (Desai et al., 2022). Aside from physical risk,
leaving an abusive relationship affects the victim’s mental health and can result in mental health
issues, physical health problems, and increased stress levels. Included in these risk factors is also
a threat to child safety; the abuser can get courts involved in custody to torment the victim
further and threaten to harm and/or kidnap the child (Logan & Walker, 2004). Because of the
risk to both mother and child safety, two agencies that are likely to be involved with a victim
recently separated from an abusive relationship is a domestic violence advocate and emergency
shelters.
