​We come across increasing media reports of mass shootings claiming the lives of hundreds of innocent people. These shootings take place in schools, religious places of worship, malls, and many other public places. Theses tragic events seem to be random acts of violence carried out by a ruthless, most likely mentally ill individual. In the case of school shootings, the perpetrator is often a student who may have been a victim themselves of bullying. Attempts to reduce the incidence of these tragic events are being made through the reform of existing gun laws. This is seen as a preventative measure to lessen the likelihood that a gun could be accessed by individuals with ill intent. However, research has found that the states in the United States with the most restrictive gun laws saw a 53% increase in the risk of a mass shooting event, so gun laws seem to be one piece to a larger puzzle.

​It is important we examine the risk factors that could predict an individual’s chances of engaging in acts of violence against innocent people in addition to the reform of gun laws. A study published in the Journal of Loss and Trauma explores the myriad of risk factors that can be identified specifically in the case of the student responsible for the Virginia Tech shooting. The risk factors discussed in the study focus exclusively on the student’s environment and its ultimate influence on him claiming the lives of his peers.
 
Could there be psychiatric risk factors as well that can help bring us closer to understanding how and why these mass shootings occur?
 
Below are 6 risk factors that describe psychological characteristics commonly present among mass shooters.
 
These risk factors give us some insight into the mental health and psychological dynamics of these perpetrators of mass shootings, that the individuals that commit these crimes may not necessarily have a mental illness, however, the presence of these characteristics predict a potential for engaging in acts of violence.

​An individual may present all of these characteristics and never commit acts of violence against others. Specifically, in the case of mass shooters, it seems to be a multifactorial situation, in which psychological/psychiatric factors interact with environmental factors leading the shooter to engage in an act of violence.
 
It is important to open up the conversation and take into account the many aspects influencing these types of events so that we can work as a community to prevent these tragedies in the future.

Disclaimer: All information, content, and material contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. ​​

​When a basketball player shoots a free throw and misses it, most players tend to give a high five to the rest of the team on the court.
 
Missing one point can be psychologically taxing, and the rest of the team is saying, “let it go, this happens, let's move forward”. This logic goes for the home team and for the away team.
 
The home field advantage can be connected to our everyday life.
 
Do you feel that you have home field advantage? Do you feel that your support structure is truly supportive, and wants you succeed?
 
Life is already difficult, and if you do not feel that you have the support that you need to succeed, and feel that you are playing as a “visitor” in a basketball game, then you are much less likely to succeed, or be satisfied, and are more likely to have depression and anxiety, and a host of other mental health illnesses.
 
Find a way to have a home court advantage. It isn’t the number of people in your life that matters, it’s the quality of the support and cheering that matters.
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Contact us to speak with a mental health professional today!
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The introduction of tele-psychiatry feels like a figment of the future of psychiatry practice and in a sense, it is, but it also isn’t. Telemedicine has been around for a little over ten years. Legislature has limited the access patients may have to these kinds of psychiatric treatments and with understandable reason, the convenience of such psychiatric services carves avenues for potential abuse, and so legally speaking, it has been heavily regulated.

However, with rapidly changing legislature, it is being reformed and allowing patients greater access to psychiatric care. The Ryan Haight Act enacted by the federal government in 2008, required physicians to conduct at least 1 in-person psychiatric consultation before prescribing controlled substances to patients.

However, just recently a new federal law was signed into effect that would no longer require the in-person consultation. The Special Registration for Telemedicine Act of 2018 would allow psychiatrists to prescribe controlled substances via tele-psychiatry services only, no in person consultation required, so long as that psychiatrist registered with the DEA. The DEA will work to finalize the law by October 24, 2019.

This means expansion of tele-psychiatry services. Patients suffering from mental illness may now have greater access to consulting with a psychiatrist. Legislature for the access of tele-psychiatry services vary from state to state, so if this is something you would be interested in, please contact our office to learn more.

​We want to connect you with a provider. Our mental wellness is just as important as our physical health. Let us help you, contact us today.

Practicing empathy is a simple way to add value to your life. Empathy enhances a person’s:

• Self-esteem
• Interpersonal relationships
• Happiness
• Overall life satisfaction

 
Empathy also improves a person’s social value. People are typically highly motivated and inspired by empathetic individuals.
 
Think of the Dalai Lama, Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Jesus Christ. These are iconic figures we strongly associate with good. As a society we look up to these figures as people who changed the world with their philosophies and actions. All these figures displayed strong empathetic traits.
 
Empathetic people are considered leaders that we trust not fear, people we turn to for guidance and support, people who add value to our lives and the world.
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Acts of Kindness

• Much like words of encouragement, random acts of kindness can have a powerful impact on others.
• These acts of kindness can be small, such as bringing in an extra coffee for a colleague, or simply offering to help someone.
• Acts of kindness help us to stay connected with an empathetic mind state, and by building stronger relationships with others this adds value to our lives.

 
Alone Time

• Interactions are important, but we all need time to recharge. Having alone time means we are not being influenced by others and we are able to re-connect with feelings we may be repressing.
• Spending time alone doing something nice for yourself such as cooking your favorite meal, listening to music, reading a book.

 
Connection to Nature

• During alone time, it can be very refreshing to make a connection to nature, going on a hike, going for a walk, helps us to re-charge and being out in nature gives us a peaceful setting to refresh our mind and spirit.
• Meditation and exercise are healthy habits that can also be practiced in nature.

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