This Amqui young adult’s tragic ramming truck attack is reminiscent of the attack on the Laval Day Care Center and even the saber attack on the streets of Quebec City not so long ago.
Although we don’t yet know the full details of these macabre events, all of these attacks have one thing in common: a strong impulse to kill, motivated by a delusional state out of touch with reality. This loss of reality is therefore characteristic of a psychotic condition well known to psychiatrists.
psychotic states
There are several psychotic states in delusional persons. Some will experience brief psychosis (often associated with another illness), others will lapse into toxic psychosis (associated with drug overuse, particularly cannabis), and many (about 2%) will enter an enduring psychotic state while suffering from schizophrenia ( often associated with genetic predisposition and traumatic experiences in childhood).
Interestingly, the literature notes that regardless of the type of psychosis experienced, all affected individuals will at some point experience delusions and sometimes even hallucinations (auditory and/or visual). Additionally, studies show that most delusions are of the paranoid type (e.g., believing there is a deadly conspiracy against oneself) or reference delusions (e.g., believing that news is coming and that we have a duty to reply).
Hallucinations, on the other hand, are always accompanied by a feeling of threat for the person concerned. Sometimes the person hears voices ordering them to harm themselves or others in their midst. What did the Amqui killer experience? The investigation will tell us.
how to intervene
Everyone agrees that we need to invest in mental health. But how to intervene and, above all, when? We know that adults who are more prone to psychosis often experience social isolation. They are also hypersensitive, easily aggressive, and overwhelmed by stressful events.
However, it is clear that an event like that of Amqui remains unpredictable. But considering that mental health disorders are more likely to develop in the context of social isolation, taking care of isolated people in our communities becomes urgent. Our isolated young adults must not face this nagging emptiness of loneliness. They really need help, listening and comfort. Because of this, Quebec needs to invest significant resources in mental health quickly to bring these young people out of isolation.
It is also up to all of us, responsible adults (parents, friends, neighbors) to take care of our isolated adolescents and young adults. Because this is what our young people need most, to feel that they are there for someone else.
Photo courtesy of Frankie Bernèche
Frankie Berneche, PhD Professor of Psychology, Cégep St-Jean-sur-Richelieu
