I totally agree that video games are part of the problem. they are addictive and brutal. The child described above had a tantrum over video withdrawal. the games are graphic, high definition, show writhing bodies and blood splattering. Kids play hours...... especially those who are socially withdrawn. (Lanza?? odds are yes!!!). This DESENSITIZATION TO VIOLENCE AND BLURRING OF REALITY/FANTASY , in no doubt play a role in event like this. yes of course the issue includes gun control and mental health care, but prevalence of these attacks correlates with the realistic quality and ubiquitousness of these games. This is an insane and irresponsible industry and parents and adults need to limit exposure to hours of shooting even on the screen!!!!

There is a valuable resource for individuals with mental illnesses and those who care for them:

NAMI or the National Alliance on Mental Illness provides a Helpline and offers free classes and workshops for individuals and their relatives/significant others.

The Alliance suggests actions to take and coping methods and stresses the importance of taking care of oneself while helping another.

NAMI 1 800 950-NAMI
or 1 800 950-6264

In my opinion this tragedy is part of a much larger and seldom covered issue. Hand gun reform is necessary and important, but when everything from movies, TV, video games, toys, to the military complex desensitizes our sons to violence, and gives them the message that shooting and being a killer is not only ok, but makes you a hero and a "real man" we have instilled a seriously dangerous confusion in our boys. When these messages are instilled in young men who are disconnected, isolated, and can't feel or understand the consequences of their actions, tragedies like these are not only possible, they are probable. Media- movies, TV video games, toys, and American culture must celebrate images of of men who love, and support, who cry and get hurt, and are fully human. Then the mass murder of innocent children like in CT and in inner cities every day will end. This, in my opinion, is the real change needed.

The problem is that now we are hearing from the monsters baby sitter that he was told NOT TO EVER TURN HIS BACK ON HIM !!! Knowing this the mother kept guns around that obviously the monster could get too. Rich white folks should no better. What privilidge made her think that all she had to do was point her finger and sternly say to the monster DONT TOUCH THE WEAPONS? I guess how much money you have and the color of your skin makes no difference, especially since these things happen in the black community all the time,,,oh,,,wait a minute.....

I believe the horrendous act that took place at the Sandy Hook School was part of a bigger problem of more than just gun control, and that is one of violent video games that kids are playing and watching. They do not have the ability to differentiate between fantasy and reality, and the images of random killing, blood and violence, blowing everything and everyone up in a fireball . That coupled with no outlet or way to express or communicate pent up feelings of anger, rage, and frustration make for a highly volatile young person. They begin to assume the callous indifference towards others as a cold-blooded killer would. It is a multi-faceted issue that needs to be seen and addressed in the larger context of society in general.

I wish most writers spreading their vitriol, against the woman who wrote the "I am Adam Lanza's mother", would spend one week working in a psychiatric emergency room, or an RTF facility. The level of violence can sometimes be unbelievable, and completely unpredictable. So many of the patients I have seen in these facilities, had hard working, loving and very disillusioned parents who were repeatedly failed by the school systems, mental health professionals and their own communities.

I am a mental health professional, and unfortunately we know very little, about how the brain works, what triggers some people to become violent and whether they are actually "cognizant" while committing their violent acts.
I have had many floridly psychotic patients who didn't know right from wrong, but exhibited no such violent tendencies. Then you have sadistic serial killers, who plan, commit and often times hide their crimes, because they are perfectly cognizant of right and wrong, and know full well, that when they are caught they will be punished, then finally you have the gray area of people who are a combination of both the psychotic, and the sadistic.

What I think most people need to understand is that there are many such mental illnesses where people can present as "plumb crazy" but are really harmless, and other such mental illnesses (particularly personality disorders like malignant narcissism, histrionic, and borderline), where people can present as very " stable" and "sane", but be completely twisted, and unhinged

Was Adam mentally ill? Who knows? Was he a sadistic individual, probably. He seemed cognizant enough to carry out the act with cruel accuracy and efficiency. It sounds like a personality disorder.

There is a reason why the law no recognizes the difference between "insanity" and just vicious cruel often times socio-pathic individuals with personality disorders who kill for pleasure.

The problem with the latter, and the reason why this woman strikes a chord with me (a mental health professional), is that many personality disorders are notoriously hard to treat, and too many of them are virtually untreatable, even by the so called professionals. If her son has something like malignant narcissism (anti social personality disorder), maybe for her, the option is really to get all the help she can get, cross her fingers and pray that it works.

This guy who committed this evil crime might have had a grudge towars his mother.
Sometimes a parents love or attention can debilitated a persons reason and a person can become so spoiled that it can react in an explosive manner.
I think also we live on an environment which glorifies war and can add to a persons psychic to commit these type of crimes easier, its also a reason how this person got hold of a powerful weapon.

My son is 21 and has ausberger's and autisism. He has never been violent, but was certainly marginalized by his peers from 8th grade on because he did not fit into the mainstream. Parents need to step in and talk to their kids encouraging them to include kids who are different drummers. My son was lucky and found a comfort in particiapting in the high school musicals. Since I heard the news about Newtown, I've asked my family members to reach out to my son at college and remind him that he is loved and we all look forward to seeing him in a few days for Christmas. Send the message of love and support and family to your child with "a mind apart." It's very important that they don't question the love for them at home and that their home be a sancuary from the world that still holds them at a distance.

I think the discussion about mental health issues in this tragedy needs to go beyond that of the shooter himself and go to why his mother felt the need to have three automatic weapons in the house living in as tranquil a place as Newtown. We don't know whether she had them under lock and key but the mere fact of her owning three automatic weapons certainly deserves exploration.

Thank goodness this woman has the common sense not to have guns under her roof with such a troubled son. I pray that your other children also find a way to deal with this family challenge.

Thank you for bravely opening our eyes to what families like yours go through.

We MUST do more to help parents in this position. It is shameful that we don't have good treatment and support options (beyond jail.)

Unbelievable you had this woman on your show as a guest? Didn't you do your research on her? She's a fraud!

http://sarahkendzior.com/2012/12/16/want-the-truth-behind-i-am-adam-lanzas-mother-read-her-blog/

We live with, or work with, or see everyday troubled people on the streets of New York. Our focus is not on mental health because it is painful and we still are a society who lives in fear of our own demons.

We ignore the obvious people in pain, till they strike out and only then are we forced to deal with their pain and the havoc they create.

Having lived in fear for a Mother-in-Law who is mentally ill and seemingly has more rights than I do. I empathize with what she is saying and know first hand that there needs to be some serious work done on how we treat mental health in America.

Thanks for recognizing the elephant in the room and saying something about it.

when are we going to start blaming the pharmaceutical and medical industries? drugging children breaks their brains, we need to start investigating this! so sad that we can't stop attacking these kids and parents.