Unfortunately, the media portrayal of individuals with mental illness who commit crimes while they are ill is purely exploitative. As a community, we should look at this tragedy as a wake-up call. The wake-up call is not for more security in schools or police officers patrolling the schoolyards but for we, as individuals, to take the time to be aware of people who are experiencing mental health problems and assist in guiding them to obtain proper treatment. If you know of someone who is experiencing mental health problems, please help them. If a person would be having a heart attack, would you just walk away or would you seek medical help for him or her.
Mental illness is a disease of the brain and can be stabilized with proper care and treatment.
There are many individuals with mental illnesses who have made positive contributions to society and they were able to do so because someone cared.