starpoint Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 Should I be worried if someone who is very depressed says things like these (they were in the context of a discussion about gang violence that led to school shootings): * He and a friend have analzyed school shootings and other murders to get inside of the killers' minds and to really understand what could lead someone to do such a thing. * He says that while it is sad that innocent people die in school shootings, the lives of the killers are more important because if it weren't for the killer then the shooting wouldn't have happened. * He said sometimes he doesn't take his medicine or that it is hard to take the medicine (for depression). * He says sometimes he feels "psychotic" and that it would be "naive to say that I wouldn't just snap" one day. * He said sometimes he feels like he wants to just rip somebody's head off (while he said it he made an angry gesture in the air of ripping someone's head off). * He said that a school shooting could happen in this city (where they aren't used to it). I said that guns aren't allowed here and he said that if someone wants one they can get one. He said that if he wanted a gun he would do anything to get one, go out of his way, even. * He said that prior to getting therapy before coming abroad, he had been thinking of ways to end his life. * He said he's not really SURE if he would kill someone. He is very depressed and has had a very hard life. I worry that he could be a danger to himself or others, and I don't know what to do about this at all. Should I be worried or am I overreacting? Link to comment
alannah82 Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 I really dont think youre over reacting... thats a tough situation because he could just be speeking very openly to you because he feels like he can tell you things that go on in his head. OR he could really be a danger to himself and others. I know someone like this who has opened up to me but I know that this person wouldnt actually harm someone (and YES I know this for SURE). I listen to this person and they say that Im the only one they can talk to about their problems because anyone else would try to lock them up for being crazy or think that they would actually act on the things they think. How well do you know this person and if you think in any way that he would actually act then I would say that you should strongly suggest to them that they get help and even talk to someone yourself Link to comment
alli Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 * He says sometimes he feels "psychotic" and that it would be "naive to say that I wouldn't just snap" one day. * He said sometimes he feels like he wants to just rip somebody's head off (while he said it he made an angry gesture in the air of ripping someone's head off). * He said that a school shooting could happen in this city (where they aren't used to it). I said that guns aren't allowed here and he said that if someone wants one they can get one. He said that if he wanted a gun he would do anything to get one, go out of his way, even. * He said he's not really SURE if he would kill someone. I think these points are of particular concern. I know some people just talk and nothing ever comes of it, but there are the few that actually do end up committing homicide. He doesn't sound suicidal in particular from what you've said here, at least right now. But I would be very concerned that he might do something to other people. Most people do not say the things that he has said. They are not "normal". You need to tell someone what he has said to you. A lot of people have known someone who said things like this, and no one took it seriously until it was too late. If he does end up deciding to kill someone or multiple someones, I don't think you could live with knowing that you knew something wasn't right and didn't make more of an effort to stop it. Report it to the school. I bet you can do it anonymously so no one will know it was you. Link to comment
starpoint Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 Yeah, I could report it but the problem is that he hasn't told anyone else this but me. So if I reported it, he would automatically know I told and then he could retaliate. Link to comment
alli Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Can you be absolutely sure though? Maybe he told a few other people this as well and you are just unaware of it? I used to know this kid with big problems... went through a lot in his life and he didn't seem all that mentally stable. I actually thought he was making up stuff. We weren't even close, it was suprising how much he would open up to me. Found out later he shared the same information with some of our other mutual friends. Watch how he acts in public around other people. If he does anything that might make someone feel like there just isn't something quite right, that wouldn't necessarily connect you as the person who reported him. And you said "He and a friend have analzyed school shootings and other murders to get inside of the killers' minds"... so he was talking to that person, too. Link to comment
starpoint Posted March 22, 2009 Author Share Posted March 22, 2009 Yes, I will do that. Thanks for your advice! I have reported him to the counselor at our school. She is sworn to confidentiality so she can't tell him anything. But I feel better knowing that I have notified the folks in charge about the situation. Link to comment
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