The U.S. mental health system needs revamping as evidenced by the 23 year old student’s shooting rampage.
Mental health professionals reported that there is a lack of funding for mental health services in general, and US laws that makes it tough to treat people against their will. It is difficult to treat such patients in these circumstances.
Cho drew the attention of campus police in late 2005 amid complaints that he was annoying women students. He spent some time in a psychiatric hospital because of worries he was suicidal.
“What was a red flag for me is that he was seen in a mental health facility and held for one day. That is a symptom of the dysfunction of our mental health system,” said Sharfstein, who is president of Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore.