Will we ever forget the Columbine High School Massacre of Tuesday April 20, 1999? As a native Coloradan, I immediately called my brother Bob who lives in Littleton. I remember thinking, “this isn’t Washington, or New York, this is Colorado!”
Since then there have been many school shootings with the shooting at Evergreen High School on Sept. 10 outside of Denver being the most recent. The shooter, a boy believed to be a student at the school, opened fire, wounding two students before fatally shooting himself. One victim was released from the hospital to continue healing at home while another was in critical condition.
Despite new anti-bully policies and “zero tolerance” approaches to weapons and threatening behavior by students, violence is still happening. What is happening to our teens?
The U.S. Secret Service collaborated to study the “school shooter” phenomena. Here are the findings that emerged:
• Incidents of targeted violence at school are rarely sudden.
• Prior to most incidents, other people knew about the attackers plans.
• Most attackers had difficulty coping with loss or personal failures and had considered or attempted suicide.
• Many attackers felt bullied, persecuted or injured by others prior to the attack
• In 2018 The National Threat Assessment released an operational guide for preventing school violence.
As a seasoned psychotherapist, working with and helping families has been one of my greatest joys. In recent years it has become evident through growing statistics that the breakdown of the family has caused many problems and is a major contributor to teen violence. The family has always had the largest effect on child development. The likelihood of criminality begins in stages associated with major psychological and sociological development and the normal tasks of growing into adulthood. In the case of potential violent behavior, if these tasks are not developed in a healthy way, in the absence of love and affection, they become perverse, frustrating a child’s needs and the ability to belong.
Depression is correlated with violent behavior. Studies show depressed individuals being several times more likely to commit violent crimes. Violence has gotten out of control. On Sept. 10 we lost a Christian, a family man and an American Patriot in Charlie Kirk to a sniper while he was giving a presentation at Utah Valley University.
What is the answer? The answer is renewal of social values and norms regarding marriage and family. The loss of love, guidance and the capacity for mothers and fathers to care for the children they bring into the world is a precursor to violent crime.
What can we do? How can we help? Be involved with your teen; they need more adult guidance now than ever before. Know the signs of teen and adult depression and the factors that can contribute. If you have a family history of depression, this may increase the risk of someone in your immediate family developing depression. Adolescent depression is increasing. One in five teens suffers from clinical depression and about 8.3% of U.S. adults suffer from depression. Violence in the United States to include gun violence, intimate partner violence and political violence has got to stop. During this week of 9/11 let us all pray for the victims, families and a brighter future.
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