Knoxville psychologist calls Va. Tech gunman textbook case

Knoxville psychologist calls Va. Tech gunman textbook case

April 19, 2007

By SONU WASU
6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Dr. Helen Smith, a forensic psychologist who's written a book on children who kill, describes Virginia Tech gunman Cho Seung-Hui as a textbook case who displayed every symptom she's seen in most school shooters.

"What they want is some notoriety. In our society it's so important to be famous," Smith says.

She describes most school shooters as loners who are withdrawn and narcissistic.

Smith has evaluated thousands of mentally ill children, from kids who make bomb threats to those who have killed. "A lot of these kids feel like nobodys. The first thing they tell me is, they felt powerless."

Students like Cho can be found in just about every school and college. They are disconnected from everyone around them.

"The people we have to be more worried about are those young people who keep everything inside and seem like they are pouting and angry yet very withdrawn," Smith says.

Although it is very rare, they may lash out like Cho did. That raises questions for many parents.

Sally Hickey says it's important to talk to your children. "I guess we're all still trying to try to sort through tragedy. I have made an effort to discuss this with my son."

Linda Arbital feels disturbed that society is becoming numb to such killings. "Unfortunately it's not a shock anymore. What I'm concerned about as a parent is where is it going to happen next, not is it going to happen next, but where, and when."

In Cho's case, media reports state parents and teachers saw the red flags and tried to get him help.

Dr. Smith says the case brings to light a much bigger problem America is facing.

"What we need to realize in this country we have de-institutionalized our mental health system. There are very few facilities for adolescents and young people in this country to go to, to get medication, and treatment."

Meanwhile, troubled students are keeping Knox County's 120 counselors very busy.

The administrator of student services, Marty Iroff, says his staff sits through about 45,000 sessions each year. "Our children are bringing all sorts of issues in from home. We call that the static within their heads."

Iroff says 15 percent of Knox County's students are dealing with depression and 10 percent have attempted suicide.

"We have a relatively high number of students who are attempting suicide, maybe twice a year. Some of whom are taking their own lives."

Divorce, drugs, weak parenting and sex are the top issues troubling teenagers.

"When children don't feel connected to either their schools or people in the schools, events, or the community, they are not involved, they get depressed and scared and tend to lash out."

Counselors say they tell teachers to watch out for students who seem withdrawn and resentful.

Parents can help by trying to stay actively involved in the child's life, especially as they get older.

"I don't think they need to hover over their kids, but they need to be involved, be aware of who their friends are and what activities they're involved in."