That information, Mr. Brauchler said, convinced them Mr. Holmes had turned to violence amid a shattering sense of professional failure and sexual rejection. Mr. Holmes was also being treated for mental health issues, and his defense described him as schizophrenic.
Medina et al. 2017
Through the above and below quotes, it is clear that journalists have become comfortable discussing mental illness and dangerous behavior. This could be to educate and bring awareness to consumers in an attempt to urge those around them who also demonstrate these behaviors to get help. As mass shootings continue to pop up on a daily basis, the link between them and mental health is rising every day. It is important to note that as supported in articles, both of these gunmen were receiving treatment for mental health issues. Although they were receiving treatment, the gunmen still carried out such actions which left countless dead.
Where the Virginia Tech police only heard scattered reports of his harassing behavior, and mental health professionals knew of his suicidal tendencies, it was the English department — where he was a major — that read his writings and saw the images of persecution, revenge and anger that they revealed, many months before he erupted into violence on Monday and killed 32 people, as well as himself.
Santora and Hauser 2007
NUMBER OF ARTICLES USING RHETORIC AROUND MENTAL HEALTH
This graph represents the use of words such as anxiety, depression, mental health, and mental illness coded throughout 28 NYT articles (7 per decade).