Can aggression be a symptom of a mental disorder? Neuropsychologist: "Most people with this disorder will never be aggressive."
In recent years, Poland has seen a significant increase in the number of diagnosed mental disorders. This phenomenon shouldn't be treated solely as a medical issue. Its causes, as psychologist, neuropsychologist, and psychotherapist Anna Kieszkowska-Grudny argues, are deeply embedded in the social, cultural, and political context. This interview with Dr. Anna Kieszkowska-Grudny, president of Minds of Hope | Stress-Free Institute, is not only an attempt to explain the growing number of mental disorder diagnoses but also a bitter social diagnosis—one of loneliness, inequality, stigma, and violence.
We are beginning to understand that mental health is not a weakness, and its loss is not a sentence. As the expert emphasizes, the first reason for the growing number of diagnoses is... and this is good news: greater social awareness. People are more likely to recognize symptoms in themselves and seek help.
"We have a better understanding of what a mental health crisis is, what depressive and anxiety disorders are. More and more people are identifying their condition, their well-being, and reaching out for help," says the psychologist.
Statistics show that as many as one in four Poles has experienced a serious mental health crisis in their lifetime. That's over 8 million people.
The second reason is the times we live in. Poland and the world are undergoing systemic and social transformations, accompanied by chronic tension.
– The pandemic has taken away our sense of control and security, and its psychological effects – as research shows – will be felt for years. Isolation, trauma, lack of physical contact with others – especially in children and young people – have left their mark.
– The war in Ukraine , economic uncertainty, inflation , rising living costs – all this causes constant stress, which over time can lead to overload, mental crisis and even the development of mental illness.
– Chronic stress is a direct path to anxiety disorders, depression and even – which may be less obvious – inflammation in the body. We live in conditions that often exceed human adaptive capabilities, and our body cries out for help in various ways – explains the psychologist.
Despite growing needs, the Polish healthcare system is lagging behind. Psychiatric spending lags even further behind and remains among the lowest in Europe.
- We know from research that if a patient does not start treatment within 6 weeks of the onset of a crisis, their prognosis significantly worsens. And today, queues for psychiatrists under the National Health Fund can last for months - says Anna Kieszkowska-Grudny.
Many patients only see a specialist in an advanced stage, when help is more difficult, longer and more expensive.
What also distinguishes us as a society is the baggage of historical experiences. Poland – a country of war, partition, and repression – carries within itself traumas passed down from generation to generation.
– We know more and more about intergenerational trauma. It is manifesting itself today – in our reactivity, susceptibility to crises, difficulties in regulating emotions. These are not just individual stories, it is a shared experience – emphasizes the expert.
Recent incidents of violence—attacks on medics, murder on a college campus—raise questions about the sources of aggression. Are mentally ill people dangerous? Is aggression a symptom of illness?
Here the expert firmly corrects the stereotypes:
- We cannot equate aggression with mental disorder. This is the greatest harm we can do to mentally ill people. Most of them will never be aggressive.
Aggression, he explains, can be a manifestation of personality disorders, but also the result of anxiety, stress, frustration, or a sense of threat. So-called "cold aggression" (premeditated) differs from "hot" aggression (incited by passion). The latter is most common in people experiencing a mental health crisis, but it still rarely leads to physical violence.
Research shows that 80% of Poles would not want someone with a mental illness to be their doctor, caregiver, or even family member. This is a sad truth about social perception.
"On the one hand, we know that one in four of us has experienced a mental health crisis. On the other, we don't want such people around us. It's a huge contradiction and social hypocrisy," says Kieszkowska-Grudny.
It is stigma, not illness, that makes people unpredictable. Because sick people – living in fear of rejection – learn to hide their condition, to isolate themselves, which worsens their situation.
In the West, the so-called "Safewards" model is becoming increasingly popular—that is, secure psychiatric wards where coercive measures are used as a last resort and staff demonstrate high emotional awareness. The Safewards method recommends the use of "proactive questions" in situations of escalating tension, which meets the key principles of de-escalation communication.
- This is a change of approach: less punishment, more understanding. If a person in crisis feels safe, they do not escalate. We need this in Poland too - in hospitals, schools, at home. Studies show that a pre-aggression conversation reduces the risk of having to use coercion and intensify the intervention by 40-60 percent.
Finally, it's worth returning to the question: does aggression always stem from an illness? No. But not every mental illness leads to aggression. And this distinction, as the psychologist emphasizes, is something we must learn as a society.
"We need a new language, a new way of talking about mental health. More understanding, less fear. More support, less judgment."
The problem isn't people in crisis. The problem is a society that doesn't give them the space to exist safely.
Updated: 09/07/2025 08:00
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