These prevention programs might focus on teaching parents about what is appropriate behavior for healthy adolescents as opposed to those who are depressed or aggressive. Many times, parents think their children are just going through typical teenage angst or are melancholic because of their age. Yet all too often, their behavior is a cry for help. Violence prevention programs for children . Some of these programs have shown promise in inner cities.
Education is also key in helping students to identify other potentially dangerous students.
There have been other school tragedies that have been averted by other students telling school officials that someone has a bag of weapons and school officials acting on the potential threat. Teachers may not always recognize signs of emotional distress. For example, I recently explained to a group of teachers that one of their students was very depressed as shown by several personality tests I had administered. All of them were surprised since this boy acted out his depression by being physically aggressive towards students and teachers. One teacher even commented that when she was depressed, she usually sat around with no energy overeating and did not realize that often, those who are depressed act out in ways that she would not expect.