Part 6/8:
Compassion Versus Responsibility: A Delicate Balance
Supporting mental health and showing compassion is indeed a societal virtue—a reflection of our shared humanity. Yet, compassion becomes destructive when it is decoupled from responsibility. It must be coupled with accountability to prevent further harm.
In this case, had D. Carlos faced proper consequences—including incarceration—he might not have been free to commit another act of violence. Exposing individuals to the "unyielding constraints of reality" through appropriate boundaries is crucial to mental health recovery and public safety. Without it, empathy risks becoming a form of neglect, akin to "suicide," by enabling destructive behaviors.