According to the report by U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC), all perpetrators of school violence had worrying behaviors prior to their violent actions and most elicited concern from others or communicated their intent to attack in some form prior to acting on their plans.
Therapists, school counselors, and teachers can play a crucial role in identifying teenagers who may be at elevated risk for violence. Key indicators include:
- Changes in Behavior: Sudden changes in mood, personality, academic performance, social interactions, or sleep patterns.
- Social Isolation: Withdrawing from friends and family, avoiding social situations, and expressing feelings of loneliness or rejection.
- Increased Aggression: Frequent outbursts of anger, verbal or physical aggression towards others, and difficulty controlling emotions.
- Self-Harm: Cutting, burning, or other forms of self-injurious behavior.
- Suicidal Ideation: Expressing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, making plans for suicide, or engaging in risky behaviors.
- Fascination with Violence: Excessive interest in violence, including violent media, weapons, and violent acts.
- Making Threats: Direct or indirect threats of violence towards themselves or others.
- Creating a “Plan”: Developing detailed plans for an act of violence, including acquiring weapons or identifying targets.
Intervention and Prevention Strategies:
Early intervention is crucial in preventing school violence. Key strategies include:
- Mental Health Support: Providing access to mental health services, such as counseling and therapy, to address underlying mental health issues.
- Bullying Prevention Programs: Implementing effective bullying prevention programs to create a safe and inclusive school environment.
- Conflict Resolution Skills: Teaching students effective conflict resolution skills to help them manage disagreements peacefully.
More insights can be found by reviewing the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) report “Protecting America’s Schools: A US Secret Service Analysis of Targeted School Violence.” Protecting_Americas_Schools.pdf
New Dimensions Can Help!
If you know a teenager who is struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues, New Dimensions can help. New Dimensions offers specialized programs for adolescents who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, panic attacks, substance abuse issues, OCD, PTSD, and other mental health issues. We have programs conveniently located in Katy, The Woodlands, and the Clear Lake area of Houston. To learn more about our programs, contact us at 800-685-9796.