Tragedy and Treatment

Many people around the upstate of SC have been stressed, saddened and angered by the tragic murders of five residents over the past ten days, but we can now breathe easy. Late today it looked like the "spree killer" was shot and killed himself while robbing a home. At this time I know nothing about him. Maybe he was mean and without a conscience. Maybe he was severely mentally ill and off his medicine. Maybe he wanted to "suicide by cop" because he knew he would be caught. We will find out soon. But it reminded me of the good that we mental health workers do, and hopefully we prevent some bad things from happening. I once did an initial interview with a middle aged male who coldly and without expression said that he wanted to kill someone, anyone, but particularly a transient who didn't have any family connections. Often the patients we take care of who have vivid and violent voices that direct them to evil. Others are so bitter against a person whom they feel has wronged them that they want to destroy them. Of course all systems are flawed, but we have probably helped to prevent a few tragedies.