We need to advocate for better mental health

jbudrick, MSN · Dec 16, 2012

I think the appropriate criteria to identify people who are likely to commit this type of crime would be "out of touch with reality." Unfortunately, treatment for mental illness is not where it should be. Every patient should be screened for reality orientation whenever they are seen by a medical professional, and people who are close the individual should be able to request a screening. Most people with mental illness are alert, oriented and their illnesses are well-controlled. While some individual rights may be given up by a required screening, medical professionals will not be making unbased accusations. The young man involved was only 20 which puts him at the right age for his first pyschotic episode. As a nurse, I have encountered patients who are definitely "not in touch" with reality, but since they were not a danger to themselves or others, they were not hospitalized. Of course, we do have sociopaths who are just plain evil and would knowingly commit this type of crime. Because this young man obviously planned this incident, I cannot help but wonder if someone might have noticed his state of mind and, maybe, if someone had screened him for reality orientation, they would have discovered he was having paranoid delusions/hallucinations which could have prevented this tragedy. I imagine lots more information will be surfacing in the next few weeks about this young man.

My hope is people will realize the difference between mental illness and psychotic behavior and, maybe, a sociopath.

My prayers are with the families of Newtown.

SNB1014, RN · Dec 16, 2012

I want to know what makes it acceptable to broadcast this kind of information about anyone, psychiatric patients or otherwise. Why are mental health patients any less deserving of privacy than other patients?
Okay, rant over.....

most likely the diabetic who didn't take their insulin will not be a contributing factor to mass violence.

there ARE very real dangers, most often to the patient themselves, in not adhering to their prescribed psychiatric medication.

and i am someone who has a mental health diagnosis as well.

having a diagnosable mental illness does not in anyway put you on the fast track to being a danger to society. but it seems those who are a danger to society very frequently have mental illnesses.

there is a reason that anytime you begin working with a therapist they tell you "everything you say is confidential unless I feel you are an imminent danger to yourself or others."

it is a very sad fact.

mightybear · Dec 16, 2012

Here's an idea: It seems like a lot of young people aren't getting the help they need when it

comes to their mental health. I'm not sure if that's because of

stigma, accessibility (financial reasons, transportation, convenient

time), or lack of knowledge/illness identification... but what if

mental health counseling was provided to every middle school and/or

high school student. What if every student could have a time slot at

least every month to talk to a mental health professional to learn

healthy coping skills and ways to improve or expand on strengths. It

could be a good way to help kids work through challenges and give them

beneficial skills to be used in adulthood. And for the kids who don't

have issues or don't want to discuss them, maybe they can use the time

as a study hall.

I know it would be a huge change for schools to go through, but it

seems like the current system has holes that kids are slipping

through. At the very least, maybe thorough mental health screenings

can be done along with school immunizations to help bring mental

health resources to the kids at risk, instead of waiting for kids to

seek out resources.

What do you guys think?

wish_me_luck, BSN, RN · Dec 16, 2012

I agree, jb. Losing touch with reality is a sign and they tend to have a glazed over stare. I don't know how to describe it. That's in both suicidal people and homicidal people. Almost like they're not there or something. Almost emotionless.So, in general, emotion is good sign.

Mighty bear, I don't know if a counselor seeing every student would work. I think it should be taught in mass, like a class. Give them resource sheets and such and if they don't feel right, then have them contact someone.

The stigma needs to be broken. I am open about my mental illness and I do it to not only break the stigma, but to let others know they are not alone. Like if someone doesn't feel right and I am open that I have it, then hopefully, they will approach me and I can try and get them help or encourage them to get help. Like a support system or something, if they don't have other support.

If other parents are anything like my mom, I can see why they don't seek help. My mom would make comments degrading mentally ill people (i.e. crazy) and I remember when I was in college and I didn't feel right, my mom had made this comment that my dad's side of the family has mental illness and she hopes that neither one of us (my brother or I) ends up with mental illness (she was real snarky and hurtful the way she said it). It was almost like we were worthless if we did. Well, I did and I knew I needed to get treatment. I also had times where I would go for counseling/therapy and come home and my mom would make comments that it wasn't working and she pulled me outof it.

Do you all see the problems here??? Sometimes these kids do know something isn't right, but for whatever reasons, they can't get help.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Dec 16, 2012

Some of the reports (and there has been much misinformation from our over zealous media but that is a conversation for another day), is that he had issues with/at school and mom with drew him to homeschool him.

I know of many folks who do a great job of homeschooling, I also know that it is an escape for some to get away from those who could intervene.

The pundits say "tell someone when you think there is an issue" well sounds like thats what happened and he was pulled to be homeschooled and more isolated....

The was discussion on TV today about how to better ensure our school are safe...we do drills, we have a plan, we have video survillance, we have a lock and buzz in system. We have counselors and yet every year people want to cut the budget to bare bones,s o non academic positions are the first ones looked at.

I just dont know and my heart hurts so much.....

Aongroup1990, CNA · Dec 17, 2012

Obviously this boy wasn't thinking at the moment. I think there must be a chemical in his brain that set him way off to kill people for no reason. It's sad because my mother had panic/anxiety/bipolar disorder to the extreme and she has been getting help for 25 years or more and she still has never improved. she has gotten worse, so what I'm saying is that the health care system doesn't help the mentally ill. It's sad and something should be done about this because for him to go shooting because of a personality disorder makes no sense. That was cold hearted and I don't know why his mother had a gun in the house.. Why didnt he have been shoot his mother?? SOmething is fishy to me..

Come one America now you know if doctors gave perfect treatment to the mentally ill how will they survive and make money in this greedy world who cares nothing about other people and their safety.....