Tragedy At Va Tech: Lessons for the Future 2

Depression Overlooked: Tips on Clint Eastwood Depression
April 13, 2007
Blog Update
May 4, 2007
Show all
0
Published by admin at
Categories
Tags

First impressions may prove incorrect. Apologies to the judiciary may be in order.

I may be wrong on one aspect of my last post friends, as now reports are  appearing that Cho did have psych evaluation and brief treatment. Appears that the judge sent him to treatment. Appears that he was released by the pros. All of us do find ourselves in the same unfortunate boat.

Perhaps wrong about those new facts, but do stick with my previous observation that the treatment and evaluation community is significantly limited by the pressure for "patient rights." Few medical intervention options exist in the current environment. The structure for effective intervention too often sides with violent anger, alcoholism, drug addiction and psychosis.

Add that to the managed care pressure to get everyone on the streets and we have a pressure cooker that will continue to pop.

Our prayers are with the families and the victims. Will save further comments until a more appropriate time.

At our office in Va Beach we have set up a Rapid Response Team for victims and families, and will spend our next days with solutions from the psych side.

5 Comments

  1. Dr Charles Parker says:
    May 6, 2007 at 11:20 AM

    Charles-
    Yes, very frustrating to see how many avoided the elephant. Sad to say, that is the current system, and Va Tech carefully walked that fine line we [all psych professionals] have been walking for years.

    Students themselves need a greater voice in these matters, and a structure for complaints. Then, in the same way a more comprehensive plan of action must be in place for review from concerned faculty and students.

    Va Tech admin folk are in the same boat with many highly trained professionals: No recourse, no plan, no grid for follow up.

  2. Dr Charles Parker says:
    May 6, 2007 at 11:12 AM

    d
    Sorry to get back so late on your comments, but do agree that we all have too long accepted an *intervention grid* that is way too limited. Many of these interventions are pseudo interventions, make believe suggestions of correction with no long term structure or follow up.

    Simple fact: If someone is in denial and wants to self/other destruct, our current system firmly supports that next activity.

    Been that way for years.

    No blame here, just how do we fix it. With the current “protections of patient rights” in place we have no solid grid for intervention. The law must change, self/other danger must be addressed in a more structured manner.

    The solution for this problem must include everyone concerned, and the communication process cannot be limited. Students in fear clearly qualify as potential sources of information.

    The reason I jumped to the first post naming the judges as casual is simply because they have been challenged to serve the final common pathway for these significant life and death decisions for years. Many have been released who clearly presented as dangerous to themselves or others.

    The entire structure needs revamping.

    Our current legal lens focuses only on the patients wishes with little regard for the comments of others, from family to peers.

    Modifying the process, including trained professionals in the process, and giving those trained professionals some authority would be a good thing.

    On the side of patients: I do personally know psychiatrists who have abused the privilege of overview for personal gain. The profit motive has contributed to the current danger.

    Behind all of this discussion: No money for treatment, and pandemic disrespect/avoidance for those with emotional/mental problems.

  3. Charles E. Donovan says:
    April 22, 2007 at 7:16 AM

    There was a big grey elephant sitting on the 500 acre Virginia Tech campus; severe mental illness . The media has wasted its time by trying to dissect what happened from 7:15AM-9:25AM on the day of the murders.

    But all 32 murders were 100% preventable had the Virginia Tech administration taken the appropriate action by suspending Cho months before the massacre.

    Seung-Hui Cho had been diagnosed by a trained psychiatrist as someone who was “at high risk for harming himself as well as others.” What more does one need to get suspended from school? It is indefensible.

    http://www.MyDepressionSpace.com

  4. Dr Charles Parker says:
    April 20, 2007 at 1:09 PM

    Thanks Lyle,
    We can get back to business this next week-
    Chuck

  5. Lyle Lachmuth - The Unsticking Coach says:
    April 20, 2007 at 9:25 AM

    Chuck, glad to hear you are intervening on behalf of the ‘survivors’.

    Much change is needed.

    My thoughts and prayers with the families and friends as well.

    Lyle