Identify the mental illness before the tragedy takes place

It doesn't usually happen with physical illnesses. Before the problem becomes severe, there's a diagnosis.

But time and again, mental health issues aren't discovered until the worst effects appear. They're issues that not often - but sometimes - lead to tragedy.

Recently, an 18-year-old opened fire at Delaware State University; a 14-year-old in Ohio shot four students and teachers before committing suicide and another 14-year-old was arrested for allegedly plotting a shooting spree at a Philadelphia high school.

And then, of course, there was Virginia Tech.

Cho Seung Hui, the shooter in the mass killing that took place earlier this year, may not have had a serious mental illness relative to other diagnoses, as the National Alliance on Mental Illness pointed out. But the possibility opens the door for reflection on the nature of mental illnesses, how to deal with them and what can be done in the future to prevent such tragedies, mental health experts say.

In New Jersey, the Safe Schools and Communities Violence Prevention and Response Plan Act outlines a comprehensive strategy for addressing a range of needs to help students cope with tragedies, and to identify and treat mental illness before violent incidents take place.

Debra Wentz, chief executive officer of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies, Inc., said the legislation is long overdue: It was introduced immediately following the 1999 Columbine killings in Colorado.

“There have been several wake-up calls — too many — that point to the critical need for this bill to be passed with the necessary funding to ensure that every school district can achieve the goals set forth in the legislation,” said Wentz.

The Safe Schools and Communities Violence Prevention and Response Plan Act calls for each county superintendent to hire a violence prevention specialist, who would work with local community mental health providers, school professionals and parents to develop a plan to identify at-risk students.

It would also ensure they receive early intervention with mental health services and to coordinate a mental health response in the event of an incident.

“This Safe Schools and Communities Violence Prevention and Response Plan Act outlines a comprehensive plan for addressing a range of needs to help students cope with tragedies and to identify and treat mental illness before violent incidents take place,” Wentz said.