Campus resources for mentally ill students questioned after Tucson shooting
As the nation continues to learn about the man in Tucson, Ariz., who killed six people and shot a congresswoman in the head, questions have risen about the resources on college campuses available to help mentally ill students.
Some psychologists believe the behavior of 22-year-old Jared Loughner could be symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia, which makes people suffer from delusions. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was meeting constituents outside a grocery store when Loughner shot her in the head and injured 13 other people. She is currently recovering at the University Medical Center in Tucson.
Pima Community College, where Loughner attended, did not make Loughner undergo a psychiatric evaluation despite the college’s reports of his violent online fantasies and strange outbursts, according to an article published in The New York Times on Thursday.
Paranoid schizophrenia is often underdiagnosed, said Leonard Newman, a psychology professor at Syracuse University. Newman said he thought there should be more resources to address the concerns, but obtaining more resources is dependent on state funding.
‘Sometimes the image of mental illness is seen as an afterthought,’ Newman said. ‘But we don’t have the institutions available to address these concerns.’
At SU, conduct that threatens the physical health, mental health or safety of other people is a violation of the Code of Conduct. Threatening behaviors include alcohol or drug abuse, hazing and ‘other forms of destructive behavior,’ but are not limited to those actions.
Chaplains at Hendricks Chapel are available to speak with students dealing with personal issues, said Mike McQuitty, a Baptist Campus Ministry chaplain. Ten chaplains representing different religions give the students spiritual guidance and grief counseling, he said. Hendricks Chapel refers students who suffer from psychological disorders or addictions for further psychological counseling, McQuitty said.
‘We receive a whole range of people, from those who want to change their majors or breaking up with boyfriends,’ McQuitty said. ‘It ranges from the heart-wrenching to confusion about life.’
SU’s Counseling Center’s services, which are covered by full-time students’ health fee, require an initial 90-minute appointment, according to the center’s website. Should the assigned therapist’s assessment determine that more therapy is advised, more sessions may be scheduled. Counseling Center employees were unable to comment because of confidentiality restrictions and the volume of therapy appointments on a daily basis.
Aside from the Counseling Center, SU offers services from the Goldberg Couple and Family Therapy Center, Psychological Services Center, Options — a drug and alcohol counseling center — and the Rape Advocacy, Prevention and Education Center. Faculty and staff are greatly encouraged to report any sort of concerning behavior to higher officials within the university, according to SU policies.
The Tucson tragedy has also caused political discussion, which is not surprising, said Grant Reeher, a political science professor. But he said he believes the crime was not a political act.
‘Ultimately, this is a crime by someone who appears to be schizophrenic,’ Reeher said. ‘Not an act of war or a political statement.’
Published on January 18, 2011 at 12:00 pm
