Bullying and inadequate mental health services can lead to violence among teens

By Staff Writer

A new study that examined the causes of the 2007 Virginia Tech (VT) shootings reveals that social problems, such as bullying and lack of treatment for mental health disorders, are potential contributors when young people turn to violence.

The study, which appears in the Journal of Loss and Trauma, shows that the VT gunman, Seung-Hui Cho, had a host of risk factors that may have led to the incident, which left 33 people dead, including Cho. The report reveals that the gunman, who was born in Korea, was allegedly bullied for his poor English skills and also faced cultural barriers that prevented him from receiving necessary mental health services.

Researchers from Michigan State University conducted the report in the wake of the January 8 shootings in Tucson, Arizona, where another young gunman, 22-year-old Jared Loughner, killed six people and wounded 13. The incident has received a lot of national attention because U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) was one of the shooting victims.

The study's author said that more education should be provided for parents and educators about bullying in schools, as well as more programs that strengthen multicultural curricula in the classroom.

Problem teens who engage in violent activity may benefit from boarding schools, which can provide a structured environment that helps curb unhealthy behavior.