Virginia Tech shootings!

[Miulang]

Could the UH also become a statistic?

According to this KITV story, the amount of psychologic counseling help available to UH students is woefully inadequate, on the order of 1 therapist: 5,000 students.

"It's a national trend, actually, where severe pathology is on the rise. We have a lot of depression on campus, a lot of anxiety on campus," UH Counseling Center Director Allyson Tanouye said.

Most students seek free, confidential counseling here themselves, but UH forces some students to into therapy because of bad behavior in dorms or elsewhere.

"Often times it's hard to deal with mandated cases, because they don't want to be here. They're being forced to, but just because of health and safety, it could be a severe eating disorder, it could be someone who has severe anger and management issues," Tanouye said.

The average university has one counselor for every 1,000 students. Because of attrition and staffing shortages, UH has more like one counselor for every 5,000 students.

To reduce the possibility of a tragedy like Virginia Tech occurring at the UH, the Legislature needs to provide additional funding so that more resources can be made available to students.

Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. It can and should be treated as soon as possible to avoid possibly adverse outcomes.

Miulang

[Leo Lakio]

Re: Virginia Tech shootings!

Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. It can and should be treated as soon as possible to avoid possibly adverse outcomes.

But as you noted earlier:

...even voluntarily admitted himself into a mental hospital for treatment for awhile.

What more can be done? If he recognized that he had a problem that required treatment, but chose not to continue pursuit of said treatment, what is the next step?

In many cases, society gets less-fatal opportunities to discover that someone needs treatment. But how do you know which signals to follow? In this tragic case, his angry writings were previously reported - but if angry writings were enough to require confinement or incarceration, many HT posters (myself included) would be wishing our jail cells had internet access.

[Miulang]

Re: Virginia Tech shootings!

But as you noted earlier:What more can be done? If he recognized that he had a problem that required treatment, but chose not to continue pursuit of said treatment, what is the next step?

In many cases, society gets less-fatal opportunities to discover that someone needs treatment. But how do you know which signals to follow? In this tragic case, his angry writings were previously reported - but if angry writings were enough to require confinement or incarceration, many HT posters (myself included) would be wishing our jail cells had internet access.

He voluntarily entered the treatment facility because he was FORCED to (per the recommendation of his friends and classmates). He probably didn't think he himself had a problem.

Involuntary commitment is the legal and ethical bugaboo of public mental health care, and one of the most deeply perplexing issues for the loved ones of someone suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder. Florida's Baker Act was the first US State Law passed to ensure a legal foundation for commitment to psychiatric care regardless of the desires of the person with mental illness, and since its enactment, others such as New York's 'Kendra's Law' have followed suit. Despite this legislative validation, intense debates over the public need for "baker acting" continue to emerge in American communities, with strong arguments to be made both pro & contra. Commitment orders can be obtained for outpatient treatment, as well (see below).

In US States in general, there are three basic legal criteria that must be met in order for a person to be involuntarily committed:

1. the person is a danger to other people;
2. the person is a danger to her/himself (generally meaning a suicide risk); or
3. the person is unable to provide for her/his basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter

Miulang

[TATTRAT]

Re: Virginia Tech shootings!

Perhaps it is also even harder to accept even the loneliest people want social contact, even if they don't think they need it.

It is known now that people tried to have help him come out of his shell, and all attempts of friendship were shot down. He felt like an outcast despite the efforts of others to accept him and make him feel welcome. It is such a shame...

[Leo Lakio]

Re: Virginia Tech shootings!

He voluntarily entered the treatment facility because he was FORCED to...

Somewhat oxymoronic, that. Sorta like how it was "voluntary" for radio stations to participate in the old Emergency Broadcast System. Good luck with license renewal if you "voluntarily" chose not to.

all attempts of friendship were shot down.

Ummm - maybe not the best choice of words?

But yeah, your point is valid. And frightening. There are undoubtedly many, many more in this country with similar feelings, and not all of them will get the help they require.

[sinjin]

Re: Virginia Tech shootings!

Those who favor gun control laws are secretly rooting for the criminals. But they would NEVER admit that. However, it is the brutal truth.

It's amazing how often your opinion coincides with the "truth". Imagine how safe campuses would be if we required all students to carry concealed handguns? A paradise of polite potential heroes.

[Miulang]

Re: Virginia Tech shootings!

Sometimes I think the concealed gun law is stupid. I mean, if you have a gun, why hide it? Why not flaunt it so people wouldn't have to guess whether or not you were packing one?

Miulang

[Leo Lakio]

Re: Virginia Tech shootings!

Concealed Carry Laws are the answer.

Is there a way we can guarantee the mental stability of all who are permitted to carry concealed weapons? After all, EVERY legally-obtained weapon in America is in the hands of people who went through a series of rigorous checks and examinations, right?

Oh - except of course for those wielded by Mr. Cho. Oopsie.

[sinjin]

Re: Virginia Tech shootings!

Sometimes I think the concealed gun law is stupid. I mean, if you have a gun, why hide it? Why not flaunt it so people wouldn't have to guess whether or not you were packing one?

Miulang

Apparently flashing guns around in public makes some people uneasy.

[Miulang]

Re: Virginia Tech shootings!

What happened in VA with Cho might be a result of the Commonwealth of VA gun laws themselves. Not all states play so loosey-goosey with the requirements for buying or carrying firearms. And their gun laws might have some historical precedence in the fact that the patricians in VA still go fox hunting.

Miulang

[Leo Lakio]

Re: Virginia Tech shootings!

Just in:
"Cho Seung-Hui sent photos, videos and rambling writings to NBC in between two shootings on Virginia Tech's campus, police say."

Via a CBS affilliate:

Cho Seung-Hui sent NBC News a package containing writings, video and photographers, according to Virginia State Police Superintendent Steve Flaherty.
Flaherty said the information was immediately turned over to the police.
"This may be a very new, critical component of the investigation," he said.
Cho may have sent the information in the two hours that passed between the first and second shootings on Virginia Tech's campus.

[Miulang]

Re: Virginia Tech shootings!

More info about the package sent to NBC.

Miulang

[TATTRAT]

Re: Virginia Tech shootings!

Ummm - maybe not the best choice of words?

But yeah, your point is valid...

My bad, very true. I guess I should have said turned down...

[TuNnL]

Re: Virginia Tech shootings!

Some of his roommates said they knew about his stalking of some women students; the women students themselves reported the incidents to the school authorities, and yet he was still attending class.

Miulang, your own link says that these women did not consider Cho Seung-Hui to be threatening, and that his communication with them was more of an “annoyance,” then anything else. If they do not press charges (which they didn’t), authorities generally cannot justify removing a student from class based on these incidents. Attending classes, is after all, 80 percent of the reason you go to college in the first place.

[Miulang]

Re: Virginia Tech shootings!

Miulang, your own link says that these women did not consider Cho Seung-Hui to be threatening, and that his communication with them was more of an “annoyance,” then anything else. If they do not press charges (which they didn’t), authorities generally cannot justify removing a student from class based on these incidents. Attending classes, is after all, 80 percent of the reason you go to college in the first place.

And you wanna bet those wahines are now experiencing major big time guilt for not having followed through with their complaints??? (In the second incident, the woman did report the stalking but then declined to press charges against Cho).

Miulang