This horrific event has many of us wondering what could have been done to prevent this and although still so much is unknown about the shooter and his mental health, we learned more about Vermont's mental health population today.
Out of the approximate 600,000 Vermonters, 28,000 of them have some form of a mental illness.
"I think we have a responsibility to each other in communities to not turn a blind eye on people who we feel may need some help," State Mental Health Commissioner, Mary Moulton said.
So because we know this is a large and very serious problem, we want you to know that there are resources out there for people who are having violent thoughts, and there are warning signs to look out for.
Unfortunately, there really is no cookie cutter answer, every case is individual, and that's of course why it can be hard to diagnose, and sometimes too late. But the most important piece of advice is to ask for help.
Let me start by saying that certainly not everyone who has a mental illness is going to be violent but because these horrific mass shootings keep happening and can't be predicted, we want to at least help you assess the risk.
"When life seems to get so out of control that things we normally do to comfort ourselves aren't helping, that's a good sign that you need help," Dr. Jaskanwar Batra said, of the Mental Health Department.
There are two sides here. You personally feel overwhelmed, or you're concerned about someone else. In both cases, ask for help... say something.
"The thing is to listen to people and take what they say seriously," Commissioner Moulton said.
Vermont pours 200-million dollars each year into the mental health budget. Even that amount of money is no doubt stretched thin... the state hospital was destroyed in Irene, so there's a shortage of beds in other hospitals, but still there are resources available.
"We have ten community mental health centers throughout the state; we have numerous private providers who can be called within every community," Commissioner Moulton said.
If you're noticing behaviors change in yourself or your friend... like isolation, changes in sleep or diet, you can talk to your primary care doctor, a psychiatrist, a crisis hotline, or you can even just show up to the emergency room. There's someone who can help you right away if you don't know where to start.
Vermont is also working on something new, a mobile crisis team... A team would literally come out to your house if you're having a mental health breakdown.
Experts say most people who are in need of help are asking for it, so now we just have to reach the people who aren't.
Employee Assistance Program: 800-287-2173 or www.investeap.org
Crisis Hotlines: http://healthvermont.gov/local/TelephoneHotlines.aspx
Mental Health Help: http://mentalhealth.vermont.gov/
Suicide Hotlines: http://www.suicidehotlines.com/vermont.html
