[tomwed]

"Consider the following seven factors, not diagnostically, not as a “profile,” and certainly never as the basis for punitive action, but as points for consideration in a quest to reduce school violence:

1. So far, all school shooters have been male and the vast majority (over 90 percent) were active or recent students at the school.

2. If there is one predominant theme in school shootings, it is anger and revenge.

a. 75% of school shooters felt bullied or harassed by other students
b. Sometimes shooters felt unfairly treated by teachers
c. They seldom have specific targets, but kill randomly in order to inflict the most harm

3. School shooters tended to be socially awkward and avoidant, and often isolate themselves with few if any friends.

a. They were sometimes described as “strange”
b. They seemed to have a penchant for” retreat into fantasy,” especially when under stress
c. Shooters exhibited an obsessive quality that often led to detailed planning, but ironically they seemed to lack an understanding of the consequences of their behavior and thus may have a history of adverse encounters with law enforcement
d. The same obsessive quality drives the shooter to focus upon interpersonal rejection, unfair treatment, and elaborate plans for revenge
e. They expressed fascination with violence, morbid media, death
f. If the shooter does associate with others, it is likely to be with those who share preoccupations with the macabre
g Shooters may have a history of cruelty to animals (this is a low probability factor, but a significant one when present)
h. There is often a sense of hopelessness that predicts their own death by the end of the incident

4. The media contagion effect (copycat killings) may serve as an especially powerful motivator for those who already feel anger, frustration or loss.
5. Shooters tend to have experienced dysfunctional family situations or experience a lack of effective adult supervision, mentoring, or oversight.
6. 68% of shooters obtained weapons from their home or the home of a relative. (Yes, ease of availability to firearms does matter.)
7. Shooters tend to express their frustrations and anger using art and/or social media posts, thus monitoring of such media becomes an important tool in early identification of individuals at risk for committing violence.

This model is not a “profile.” It is simply the accumulation and integration of recurring themes that warrant consideration, not only by law enforcement, but educators and mental health clinicians dedicated to primary prevention and school safety.

So can we tell who will be next to kill? Probably not. But we can facilitate direct supportive outreach and intervention with those who may be at high risk for committing school violence or to their families, or both."

"Profiling" School Shooters
Can we tell who will be the next to kill?
Posted Mar 29, 2018

So this was written prior to the last shooting and since there has been 1 shooting per week it would be interesting how it would apply to those as well.

I said this in another similar thread. We have 1 counselor per 500 students and mostly they need to spend their day doing paper work not having heart to heart talks. You need a 24 hour hotline for troubled kids that need someone to talk to and whistle bowers. Experienced teachers can tell you who needs extra attention. They can also tell you what coaches and other teachers are applying unhealthy pressure.

What about suicide?
"The Shocking Numbers
Suicides among girls ages 15 to 19 doubled from 2007 to 2015, when it reached its highest point in 40 years.

The suicide rate for boys ages 15 to 19 grew by 30 percent from 2007 to 2015.

Twice as many young men, ages 20-24, commit suicide, compared with young women. In teens, ages 17-19, the ratio is even more skewed, with suicide claiming nearly five times the number of young men.
Additional risk factors include traumatic or stressful life events; a prior suicide attempt; a sense of isolation and lack of support; impulsivity issues; substance abuse issues; poor coping skills; and access to a suicide method.
Young men are four times more likely to die from suicide than young women. However, in the same age range, females are more likely than males to attempt suicide. "