Cleo Smith’s abduction: Blaming mental health on the abduction is problematic.
Here, I will explain why it’s ableist and problematic to blame an obsession with Bratz dolls, and mental health, on an abduction. I will also explain why it’s problematic to defend the person responsible for the abduction.
No one is perfect. Those who see me on social media will paint me (accurately) as brave, adrenaline seeking, a girl with a taste for adventure, beauty and fashion. But I have my own problems — such as autism, anxiety and. I also have PCOS — which can lead to anxiety and other mental health issues, which were made worse by the lockdowns last year and that of 2020. But despite my flaws, and mental health — just like most people — I would never, ever, do something so low or horrendous — like abducting a child, like in this case, Cleo Smith, who was abducted by Terrance Kelly. Unfortunately, Terrance Kelly’s supporters and defenders will put the fault on mental health and I’m here to explain why this is problematic.
First of all, while no person would think it is normal to abduct a child, blaming mental health on an abduction would be like blaming alcohol on Grace Millane’s death. Yes, you heard correctly, not taking responsibility for your own actions and pinpointing it somewhere else. Not only is this not good at all, but it is harmful, because if you don’t take responsibility for your own actions, you could then do it to someone else.
Then, you have the issue of the Bratz dolls collection. Attributing this to the abduction is problematic, as not all abductors are obsessed with children's toys, games or movies. Also, there are neurotypical people out there — for example, people with Asperger's syndrome, which is a form of Autism — who have an obsession with dolls, toys, characters etc, and will have some form of a collection of them. But it isn’t limited to neurotypical people — people with mental health issues do this too, and this includes hoarders, where their houses are cluttered with old dolls from a very young age and are mentally unable to let go of their possessions. Also, non neurotypical people collect dolls, toys and characters — such as Pokémon, Barbie and other dolls, toys and figurines — and they are known as collectors (many of these people would attend events such as Armageddon expo, an annual event held in New Zealand across several cities). So therefore, linking the abduction to a simple obsession of Bratz dolls is not only ableist towards hoarders, people with mental health issues and neurotypical people, but it is insulting to collectors as well.
Additionally, there is an element of parent shaming and victim blaming. Unfortunately, online trolls are blaming the parents for “failing to look after Cleo properly”. This includes conspiracy theories and blaming Cleo’s parents for failing to look after Cleo in the area at the time. Some trolls also went as far as accusing the mother — and the stepfather of the abduction. And this is never OK. And this is why defending the perpetrator is problematic, along with mental health.
And to cap it all off — blaming mental health on an abduction is, on a more advanced level, pure ableism. It runs on parallels to alcohol and rape — except blaming mental health is ableism, while blaming alcohol for rape is misogyny and victim blaming. Firstly, it implies that people with mental health issues cannot be trusted around children, and it writes them off as “dangerous”. Second thing, it is hugely insulting to everyone with mental health issues — and neurotypical people, including those with autism and dyslexia as the majority of people with mental health issues and neurotypically diverse people do not commit this sort of despicable act. Also, some abductors do not have any mental health issues at all, which makes the link with mental health issues and abduction inaccurate.
Finally, an element of racism is also noted in this case: Because the victim (Cleo) is white and the perpetrator is aboriginal, supporters of the perpetrator will quickly flock to defend him. But by doing so, this puts the Aboriginal community at greater harm from far right trolls and white supremacists, as the far right will then use this to imply that the Aboriginal community cannot/or is not to be trusted because of this case and the defenders. Those who are defending the perpetrator and blaming mental health for the abduction are in fact, doing more harm to the Aboriginal community and are fueling the far right. By doing this, Terrance’s supporters and defenders are indirectly contributing to racism against the aboriginal community.
Simply put: YOU are responsible for your own actions. People are responsible for theirs, too. Terrance Kelly made the choice to abduct Cleo. Nothing made him do it, and certainly not mental health. And certainly not those Bratz dolls, either. Why he made that choice to abduct a little girl, we may never know, but one thing we do know — he’s a monstrous person who deserves to be locked up in prison for a very, very long time, and also be made to pay Terry Flowers, who was wrongly named by the media as the perpetrator.
So in conclusion: I have mental health issues. I drink alcohol (like most adults do). But, like everyone else, I mind my own business, I strive to achieve my goals and I try to be a positive person and I live my life to the fullest. And one thing is for certain — I will never abduct a child or any other person, or commit a horrendous act such as rape. And there’s no excuse for anyone to do it, either. No matter how much Nicki Jackson of Alcohol Healthwatch tries to lay the blame on alcohol or mental health — that just won’t fly with me and it shouldn’t with anyone else. And remember, actions have consequences if you choose to carry out a horrific act.
