Mass. psychologist on early symptoms of anti-social behavior
Updated: 6:55 PM EDT Jul 7, 2022
CONTACT CONCORD NEW HAMPSHIRE POLICE. ERIKA: POLICE INVESTIGATING THE MASS SHOOTING AT A FOURTH OF JULY PARADE NEAR CHICAGO NOW SAY THE 21-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN 2019 AND THREATENED TO KILL FAMILY MEMBERS. HERE TO OFFER HER PERSPECTIVE IS DR. KHADIJAH BOOTH WATKINS, A PSYCHIATRIST AND THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE CLAY CENTER FOR YOUNG HEALTHY MINDS AT MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL. THANKS FOR JOINING US. BEN: WE UNDERSTAND YOU NEVER TREATED THIS PATIENT AND CAN’T COMMENT DIRECTLY ON HIS CASE. IN GENERAL, WHEN TEENAGERS THREATEN TO HARM THEMSELVES OR OTHERS, WHAT’S THE FIRST THING THAT PARENTS SHOULD DO? >> WELL, SAFETY IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY. IT IS RARE THAT SAFETY ISSUES ARISE OUT OF NOWHERE. USUALLY THEY ARE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS OR SIGNS THAT INDICATE YOUR CHILD IS SUFFERING. WHAT WE WANT TO SHIFT THE FOCUS ON IS THINKING ABOUT WHAT MAKES OUR KIDS VULNERABLE. THINGS LIKE DEPRESSION. BUT ALSO HAVING THE FIGHT WITH A FRIEND, A ROMANTIC RAKE UP, OR CONFLICT WITH PARENTS CAN LEAD KIDS TO HAVE BEEN UNSAFE THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS. IF YOUR IN A SITUATION WHERE YOUR KID IS UNSAFE, IF IT IS AN IMMEDIATE DANGER, WE HAVE TO HAVE SWIFT ACTION. WE HAVE TO CALL 911 OR IF IT IS SAFE, TAKE THEM TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM. WHEN IT IS NOT SO IMMINENT, WE CAN USE THE CRISIS LINE OR THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE. AND IF YOUR READY HAVE A MENTAL PROVIDER, YOU CAN CONNECT WITH THEM. ERIKA: LET’S TALK ABOUT ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EARLY SYMPTOMS? >> IT IS TRICKY BECAUSE THE TERM DOES NOT GIVE MEANING TO WHAT IT IS AND I HEAR KIDS USING IT CASUALLY TO DESCRIBE BEING SHY. BUT ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIORS PRETTY SERIOUS AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IS A COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG. THERE IS OFTEN A TOTAL THIS REGARD FOR AUTHORITY AND AUTHORITY FIGURES. THESE PEOPLE COMMIT ACTS AND BEHAVIORS AND HAVE NO REMORSE. THIS IS A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR. KIDS CAN MISBEHAVE AND BE DISHONEST, BUT THIS IS REALLY PERVASIVE PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR. THESE ARE THINGS YOU WOULD NOTICE OR LOOK INTO. BEN: AS YOU KNOW, MANY TEENAGERS STRUGGLE WITH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. IS THERE ANY LINK BETWEEN THOSE CONDITIONS AND VIOLENCE? I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, WE LOOK FOR MEDICAL REASONING, BUT MAYBE THERE IS NOT ONE. >> IT IS OUR NATURE TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING THAT IS NOT COMPREHENSIBLE. MENTAL ILLNESS COME UP WE ARE ABLE TO SHIFT THE FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING APPROPRIATE INTERVENTION AND BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY STRUGGLES KIDS ARE HAVING EARLY, OUR KIDS HAVE A GREAT CHANCE OF BECOMING WELL-ADJUSTED ADULTS. WE DO NOT WANT TO LINK MENTAL ILLNESS TO VIOLENCE BECAUSE THAT IS SIMPLY NOT THE CASE. WHILE THESE HORRIFIC ACTS TYPICALLY ARE COMMITTED BY SOMEBODY WHO MAY HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS, THE MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT THE REASON WHY WE ARE HERE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS AND KNOWING WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY ARE STRUGGLING AND WHEN WE SHOULD BE REALLY WORRIED. HAVING THIS EDUCATION IS REALLY THE KEY TO REALLY SUPPORTING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. BECAUSE THEY ARE STRUGGLING AND IT IS HARD ON SO MANY OF THEM, BUT IT WILL NOT NEED THEM TO BECOME PEOPLE WHO COMMIT THESE TERRIBLE CRIMES. ERIK
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Mass. psychologist on early symptoms of anti-social behavior
Updated: 6:55 PM EDT Jul 7, 2022
Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins is a psychiatrist and the associate director of the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Mass General Hospital.
Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins is a psychiatrist and the associate director of the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Mass General Hospital.
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