FSU Shooting and the Shooter
This horrific shooting came right after my last blog post about visiting my alma mater for homecoming, filled with memories and landmarks of FSU I hold dear- including Strozier Library. I awoke to the news by way of text from my Dad (also an FSU alum.) which simply stated there was shooting on FSU's campus. I immediately looked up the news story and then immediately was brought to tears when I read that violence had touched my home of five years. I watched the videos and pictures of the chaos. Now I know, more than ever, how heartbreaking a tragedy is when it touches a place you know so intimately. I was just sitting in front of Strozier on Landis Green. How could a shooting occur in a place I know so well? It happens, all too frequently. I am thankful to God that no students or employees were killed, but I pray for the injured students as well as those who are traumatized from witnessing the event; I know I would be.
Since Florida State is the reason I hold my Masters of Social Work degree, I hope to view this tragedy through the education FSU gave me. I read this article regarding Myron May, who will now forever be known as the FSU shooter. Assuming this article is correct, I see a glaring answer to our unexplained and unexpected intended mass shooting.
Mental Illness.
I work as a medical social worker and have frequent exposure to the intensity and, sometimes, total savagery of mental illness. I see people in acute psychosis, and they are controlled by emotions of anger, paranoia and often confusion. Myron May himself stated he was in spiritual warfare, and I can understand the demons he spoke of when I see those struggling with an unsolicited internal evil. If Myron May was indeed having delusions of persecution, auditory and visual hallucinations, and a break down in his normal way of living I would imagine he had a schizophrenia diagnosis or maybe Major Depression with psychotic features. Mental Illness, especially MI with hallucinations and delusions, is devastating on the mind. Fortunately, I meet with individuals who have Schizophrenia (one of the most severe forms of mental illness) who are living their lives safely with the support of medical and therapeutic professionals. But it's not always easy to get there especially during the first signs something is wrong.
I don't have all the political and moral answers to this crime, but I do have a charge and insight on the prevention of this type of murder. Myron needed more help than he received, he needed follow up and medication to control his symptoms. I wish he would have received more services, more attention, more anything really relating to his needs prior to opening gunfire on innocent people. It's easy, yet unfair, to play the blame game on his friends and family (why didn't you see it), but we can only move forward and take responsibility as a society to help those suffering from severe mental illness. It's a very difficult job to do, but I am thankful for those I work with every day who make it their life's work to help individual's with maladies of the mind, who are often stigmatized and left untreated.
I hope this situation never occurs again, but I know this world is full of suffering, illness, sin, and even evil. So, each of us should do our part to love a little more and comfort those touched by tragedy to prevent an expression of anger in place of the reciprocation of kindness.
I pray for healing for everyone involved.
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." - Luke 6:35-36
Since Florida State is the reason I hold my Masters of Social Work degree, I hope to view this tragedy through the education FSU gave me. I read this article regarding Myron May, who will now forever be known as the FSU shooter. Assuming this article is correct, I see a glaring answer to our unexplained and unexpected intended mass shooting.
Mental Illness.
I work as a medical social worker and have frequent exposure to the intensity and, sometimes, total savagery of mental illness. I see people in acute psychosis, and they are controlled by emotions of anger, paranoia and often confusion. Myron May himself stated he was in spiritual warfare, and I can understand the demons he spoke of when I see those struggling with an unsolicited internal evil. If Myron May was indeed having delusions of persecution, auditory and visual hallucinations, and a break down in his normal way of living I would imagine he had a schizophrenia diagnosis or maybe Major Depression with psychotic features. Mental Illness, especially MI with hallucinations and delusions, is devastating on the mind. Fortunately, I meet with individuals who have Schizophrenia (one of the most severe forms of mental illness) who are living their lives safely with the support of medical and therapeutic professionals. But it's not always easy to get there especially during the first signs something is wrong.
I don't have all the political and moral answers to this crime, but I do have a charge and insight on the prevention of this type of murder. Myron needed more help than he received, he needed follow up and medication to control his symptoms. I wish he would have received more services, more attention, more anything really relating to his needs prior to opening gunfire on innocent people. It's easy, yet unfair, to play the blame game on his friends and family (why didn't you see it), but we can only move forward and take responsibility as a society to help those suffering from severe mental illness. It's a very difficult job to do, but I am thankful for those I work with every day who make it their life's work to help individual's with maladies of the mind, who are often stigmatized and left untreated.
I hope this situation never occurs again, but I know this world is full of suffering, illness, sin, and even evil. So, each of us should do our part to love a little more and comfort those touched by tragedy to prevent an expression of anger in place of the reciprocation of kindness.
I pray for healing for everyone involved.
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." - Luke 6:35-36
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