By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    cost of healthcare worldwide versus average life expectancy
    Cost of Healthcare and Average Life Expectancy World Averages show USA a MASSIVE Outlier – InfoGraphic
    July 20, 2012
    obamacare confusion
    AskBlue Tries to Explain Health Insurance and Obamacare
    September 2, 2013
    Update on HealthCare in China
    November 19, 2012
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: W H Y ? A New Public Health Issue?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > News > W H Y ? A New Public Health Issue?
News

W H Y ? A New Public Health Issue?

Gary Levin MD
Last updated: December 17, 2012 8:18 am
Gary Levin MD
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

 

 

Sandy Hook Elementary School                 Columbine High School

WHY ?

A new and dangerous public health threat has emerged in North America. As yet it is not known how the disease spreads. Outbreaks have been rare, but in the more recent two decades it has taken close to 100 lives in the U.S alone.

More Read

Alzheimer's and fatty acids
Alzheimer’s Slowed by Omega-3 Supplements?
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Says No to Cancer Drug Zaltrap for Colorectal Cancer-Avastin Works Just As Well and the Cost is Half
Mobile Health Around the Globe: Bangladesh Maternal Mobile Health Service Aims to Reach 2 Million Moms
Taking Care of Your Body is Absolutely Essential to Stay Healthy
Rite Aid Stores Hosts RV Tour For a Free Skin Cancer Screen

It kills swiftly but is not uniformly fatal. It leaves a trail of heartbreak and never ending questions? Those not killed by it’s outbreak ask could we have been immunized against it? How can we find a cure or a treatment ?

What are we writing about here? Mass murders in schools, and public places.

Among the questions asked are;

Can it be predicted and/or prevented?

Why has it become more prevalent?

What are the risk factors?

Is there something wrong with our mental health systems?

Prediction of these events has been a total failure. Forensic psychologists and psychiatrists have elaborated on several personality traits in persons who commit these crimes. They caution however that these traits do not necessarily point to violent behavior.

There may be an explanation (or several) for it’s increase in prevalence.

Questions 2 and 4 may be related.

 

The development of effective anti-psychotic and other psychotropic drugs to control unacceptable behavior, psychosis, anxiety and depression initiated a paradigm shift in the treatment of mental illness. Prior to 1980 severely and chronically emotionally disturbed people were admitted to either short term or long term psychiatric institutions. Most hospitals had a mental health ward that was secure and locked down. Some were smaller private residential facilities, but the vast majority were large state and/or federally administered facilities.

The institutions were expensive to maintain, and in the new era of ‘effective’ drugs to control aberrant behavior, it was deemed possible to treat more emotionally disturbed people as outpatients once their acute symptoms were controlled. The number of patients needing to be admitted both for short term or long term hospitalization decreased dramatically and gradually most of these in patient facilities closed or were downsized significantly. The ability to admit patients became more difficult.

The stigma of mental illness remains high. People are fearful of what they do not understand. While it is now better understood what causes emotional aberrations, (a chemical imbalance of the brain), only now has neuroscience been able to study the metabolic activity of the brain using metabolic scans coupled with MRI imaging.

Early studies reveal portions of the brain that ‘light up” in emotional and/or physical activity. Studies are in the early phases of identifying behavior with localized activity. As research progresses it is hoped that more specific illnesses will be identified by brain scans.

Will this evolve into predictability of violence or other maladaptation’s to human behavior? Will it become a routine screening test for some personality types? Perhaps the hope may be we can screen for these serious and fatal diseases much like we do now for cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, trisomy 21 and other what we know now to be genetically identifiable at early stages.

We must be hopeful.

This particular Sunday most people are thinking, wondering why, also praying for the survivors and the tragic outcome for families, friends and our community.

More>>>>>>

GML

 

TAGGED:SandyHook
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

healthy alternatives to drinking coffee
News

Healthy Drinks That Can Help You Take Care Of Your Body

October 27, 2022

Will Power is Biological

January 14, 2012
Truck Accident
NewsPolicy & Law

Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help with Your Medical Debt

June 8, 2024

Obesity Drugs Changing the Treatment Landscape

February 29, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?