To be concerned that the shooter in the US keeps being referred to as Aspergers

[pingu2209]

This worries me, I feel like the press are referring to the shooter's Aspergers are the reason for him flipping out and killing the children and teachers. He clearly had mental issues but Aspergers is not likely to be the issue.

There are so many people with Aspergers or are on the autistic spectrum but this does not go hand in hand with mental issues in terms of agression.

I feel this could end up in a nasty backlash.

YANBU.

I have been sent to be assessed for Aspergers, I have only told my very close family and the whole of MN because I am scared of what people will think. It shouldn't be that way but sadly, people get frightened by what they don't understand.

Just because people are raising the issue of his Aspergers being constantly referred to, doesn't mean people don't respect the situation, it just means they are worried about the effect it will have on their/their childrens lives (and it could have a massive effect.

dreaming Oh dear she does seem to be struggling with her own mental health after reading your link. I do agree with what you said earlier though (and I think we can learn some lessons in this country too) about how we need to look at how we look after people who suffer from mental health problems.
Unfortunately I don't think we will ever be able to prevent this from ever happening again but surely we must look at what we can do to minimise the risk e.g. gun control, an effective mental health service and educating people about acceptance of others who are different to themselves.

Willitbe I totally agree. I think also, in terms of promoting tolerance and acceptance, we need to think about society's ideas about masculinity and gender -- I think out of about 65 mass shootings in recent decades, only one of them was a woman. The reasons for this are probably very complex but it's such a glaring discrepancy that we need to look into it.

Frustratedartist, your post makes no sense?

I know a young man with Aspergers. He lives alone, in a flat which he doesnt look after very well. He plays some violent video games. He used to be under Childrens Social Services. Not sure if he is now under Adult Social Services.
And I have always thought he could be capable of doing what the young man in America did, if he got upset or angry enough with someone, or with life as a whole.
But what do I do about it?

Nothing might ever happen. But it might.

Also, using another perspective, I expect other people on here and MN, know some people like that too, who do not have Aspergers or autism.

Why do you think he could be capable?

Amillionyears? Are you serious? Because he lives alone, because he plays video games, most of which are violent anyway, because he doesn't clean to your standards? Because he is under the care of professionals? You have considered he is capable of mass murder. How ridiculous. How about you leave it up to the experts. These are not indicators of a mass murderer. There are many people living like that for many reasons. If I want to see some ignorance, I only ever have to read the daily mail or come on mn :(

Are the people you listed actually diagnosed, OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos? [curious]

I play violent video games, was also under childrens social services for my behaviour (don't live alone though).

Those aren't very good reasons for him to be capable of mass murder!

Frustratedartist, do you think someone with no mental health issues what so ever would do something like this?

Sorry Bisjo, but the media tend to try to link violent behaviour to aspergers whenever they can.

He hears voices. Thinks differently to others. Keeps his curtains closed to 5pm each day. Doesnt like the light. Likes to only go out at night. I could go on.

Those are still not good enough reasons.

With regard to light and keeping the curtains closed, many people with Aspergers have sensory difficulties, including not liking light.

Mental illness and I'm not including asd here, (although some people with asd will also have forms of mental illness just like the rest of the population) needs to be understood and catered for in society. Allowing everyone to have Access to weapons which are designed to kill large numbers of people is irresponsible. Why do you think these types of atrocities are less frequent in the uk. Guns fit perfectly into the spontaneous urges of people who are suffering mentally. It's always going to be an atrocity waiting to happen. People who defend their right to have weapons need to have a hard look at what their costs and benefits really are.

Last time I checked hearing voices wasn't a diagnosing criteria for Autism.

That is the problem isnt it Schro. At what point does it become "good enough reasons to do something?"
My guess is that Adam Lanza's mum didnt think he was capable of what he did either.

As far as I'm aware hearing voices is not related to aspergers. Could be related to some form of mental illness but I would really hope the professionals involved with him would be keeping a close eye.

The young man I am talking about may have more than 1 mental health problem.

You can't always pre-empt these things but guns really exasperate the issue.

Festive, no they are not. Or at least, they werent when I last knew him well, three years ago. Nobody was. Nobody at all.

I suppose hearing voices might be a worry but that's the only thing you have said that would be even slightly worrying.

Is there anything he has actually said or done that would make you think he would be capable of this? If so, that's entirely different.

He didnt have access to guns when I knew him.

I just think, that when you see the personal profiles of people who have done such things as this before, he fits the profile and more sometimes.

Possibly amillion... But you choose to mention his aspergers. It's not that simple and people need to understand that they don't understand.... That's why there are professionals. You just described my brother in law, apart from the voices... He's not unstable just different. Spreading fear about people who choose to live differently is not helpful. It takes more than a glancing collection of observations to diagnose a mental illness.

Oh for fucks sake.

I hear voices. I see people and things that aren't there.

The only person I have ever tried to kill is myself.