Guilty, But Not Just That

There’s a difference between guilt and evil.

We don’t like to talk about that. It’s easier to split people into clean categories: innocent or guilty. Victim or monster. But the truth is messier—and heavier.

This week, we’re asking: What does “guilty but mentally ill” really mean?

For some, it means years of untreated trauma. Mood disorders mismanaged or ignored. A system that criminalizes breakdowns instead of healing them. And by the time the damage is done, society is only interested in punishment—not context.

That’s not to say there isn’t accountability. There has to be. But when we only focus on the act—and not the avalanche that preceded it—we risk repeating the cycle. Again. And again.

Prison doesn’t fix what’s broken. It just buries it.

Have you ever struggled with how to hold someone accountable and compassionate? Let’s talk about it. Comment below or follow for next week’s truth.