Infinite Monkeys

No, because universities are typically run by liberals who want us to be all-inclusive and not discriminate, period. To make a judgement that a certain behavior is right and another is wrong is anathema to them, so mental health screening would, by that brand of logic, be bad, unless it was used to give the mentally ill scholarships because of their "disability."

Monkey this is kind of off topic, but I think it's important in looking at this issue, as there is the usual "what it wrong with us" going on. Cho was not the 1st Korean to go on a killing spree:

"South Korean spree killer. Has argument with girlfriend. Being a police officer, Woo Bum-Kon robs the police armory and goes on a drunken 8 hour shooting spree through three villages, leaving 57 dead and 35 wounded before he suicides with two grenades in Uiryong. The Korean interior minister resigns. (28 Apr 1982.)"

From the blog: http://metropolitician.blogs.com/scribblings_of_the_metrop/2007/04/the_politics_of.html

So, this shows that the US is not unique in having mass murders. It is an evil that can affect any culture or place.

From the snippets I've heard on the Bill Bennet show this morning, the VT guy's signs had been picked up, referred, and reported. He was even given close one-on-one tutoring by one of the highest-ups. But the system didn't follow through. So in this case, it appears (according to my limited exposure to reports) that it wasn't a lack of recognized signs.

But on the macro level, you're still right, David. It's odd. We overprescribe and underobserve in k-12, but underdiagnose in college. It's a tough subject, but there are good experts who aren't being given a chance for input on the system. From what I hear from relatives in the business of mental health, it's probably due to a systematic, "cultural" really, defunding and underfunding of the issue.

Odd that when I was in college, the whole emphasis was on "wellness" for everyone. But it seemed like such a wasteful (w)holistic approach, that those who really needed focused specialized care were overlooked and underresourced.

It is broke and someone should fix it. Instead, the whole debate will likely be materialist; gun control on one side and right to carry on the other. It just seems stupid and crass to drag out those arguments right now. If someone is suffering from "do-something disorder" in the wake of recent events, let them appoint and mental health czar and accidentally overfund the issue.

And let me apologize for the overabundance of underisms.

I agree with you, Steve. I'm not sure there's any nation that has figured out how to deal with the mentally ill--obviously committing them and locking them away before they've hurt anyone is a terrible thing (and totalitarian governments have shown that such powers are quickly abused). It's a tough problem, and I agree with Brad that I hope this doesn't quickly break down into a debate about small issues, while ignoring the bigger issue of how a society protects (and protects from) the mentally ill.

I'm wondering what kind of mental illness is necessary to find yourself listening to Bill Bennett...

It's actually worse than you think. It was Bennett on Ingraham's show.

I plead being in the car while off my iPod. It was only a six minute drive. I figured I could handle it.

The only thing worse would be Medved playing a clip of Bennett on Ingraham's show, and then spending 15 minutes trying to convince himself he's the smartest person in the room, even though he's alone.

Some of the issues with "forcing" mental health care onto people has to do with our rights and civil liberties.

I am a mental health provider in New York state and we have a thing called "Kendra's Law" which was a reaction to a young woman being pushed into an on coming subway train by a mentally ill man. This law can assist family and providers with forcing mental health care like therapy and medications. The problem is the law aspect. It is so hard to get the doctors to sign off on these and so much of the information can be subjective. Very challenging at the very least.

The colleges do NOT do a good job addressing this. Some problems can be related to having "their own police" (yeah right, sounds silly but true....a horrible murder in Harvard in the 1990's with some major SNAFUs!). I agree with pp about the "wellness" focus on most campuses.

And, yes, I am going to cry about money. There really is limited support for good mental health care. Even if your parents have good insurance, you MAY get 10 visits if the HMO approves it. Some one like Cho had so many issues, the staff at the college were way out of their league!

Ok...I'll stop. Good conversation though.