7000 school shootings
action would be taken if this were a faulty product
despite media portrayals they are multi-faceted
A crisis on various level
gun laws are at the surface of the issue
but ... no concern for people's lives
--> change the culture about guns
--> make it harder for mentally ill people to own guns
--> gun lobby restriction
--> keep guns out of the hands of teenagers
--> common sense: fewer guns, fewer shootings
Societal problem:
negative stigma around mental health
--> talk about it! Anxiety for instance.
"Boys don't cry". = weak and feminine but this is wrong at a basic level. Also, around 60% of suicides are male - so talking about problems is vital!!!
- mental illness likely to be in the mind of the shooter
- male entitlement (white males - often the shooters!). Starts at birth.
- Toxic masculinity. Limit the range of emotion. We excuse violent behaviour when they are white males.
- Sante Fe shooter. Targeted the class of a girl who refused to date him.
- Toxic masculinity affects not only the white males, it affects everyone!
- The point isn't all men are like this, but enough are and we need to treat this problem.
The psychological profile of a school shooter:
- he won't fit in the box of toxic masculinity
- fell through the cracks of the mental health system - he went unrecognised
- has access to a gun
She feels society doesn't take responsibility for its issues.
She turned her feelings into action in the TED Talk. Give time to an organisation that votes against gun violence etc. Also, talk about it at home, keep it in your mind's eye. Have that tough conversation.
Stand up and realise that change is in order! Talk about mental health.
Stop using femininity as an insult.