Some Thoughts on the Virginia Tech Tragedy

In the wake of the tragedy in Blacksburg, Va., it is understandable that people are searching for ways to prevent another such tragedy. Certainly, the student responsible for the attacks should have received psychiatric help. Had he received effective help in time, these events may not have happened.

It's important to note that people with mental illness are more often the victims of violence than they are the perpetrators. In addition, according to Otto Wahl, Ph.D., a professor of psychology and director of the Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology at the University of Hartford: "...mental illness is a poor predictor of violence, ranking well after these factors: youth, male gender, history of violence, and poverty. Aside from people who abuse substances, people with mental illness commit violent acts at the same rate as nonpatients."

Statistics show that many college students experience symptoms of mental illness. It is important that these students seek help for these problems.

One thing that deters students from addressing their psychiatric issues is the stigma associated with being mentally ill. How can we overcome stigma if people automatically associate violence with mental illness? Many students who may be experienceing symptoms of mental illness will decide not to get help because it will make them look unstable.

The vast majority of people who experience psychosis are not violent. In rare instances, individuals experiencing psychotic symptoms will act out violently, but it is a common misunderstanding that being "psychotic" is the same thing as being violent. All psychosis means is that a person has lost touch with reality. WebMD defines psychosis as "an illness that prevents people from being able to distinguish between the real world and the imaginary world. Symptoms include hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that arent't really there), delusion (false beliefs), and irrational thoughts and fears."

While this is certainly a symptom that people should seek professional help for, it does not indicate that a person experiencing psychosis absolutely poses a threat to others' safety. Good people can experience psychotic symptoms. Psychosis is relatively common; tragedies such as the one at Virginia Tech are extremely rare.

Sources:
http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/36/9/10
Violence and Mental Illness: Media Keeps Myths Alive
By Aaron Levin, Psychiatric News, May 4, 2001
Volume 36 Number 9

http://www.webmd.com/depression/depression-glossary

http://www.healthyminds.org/collegestats.cfm


Posted by Christa Andrade