UNITED STATES PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION CONCERNED MEDIA COVERAGE OF VIRGINIA TECH SHOOTINGS WILL INCREASE STIGMA
Linthicum, MD. â?¦quot; April 18, 2007 â?¦quot; The U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association(USPRA) wishes to express its deepest sympathies to the family, friends and classmates of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute shooting victims. As details surrounding the shootings continue to unfold, USPRA has become increasingly more concerned that the mediaâ??s focus on the killer's mental illness will lead the public to believe that all persons will mental illness are potentially violent. Public perceptions that violence is strongly associated with mental illness are fueled by graphic media reports of violent crimes.

Studies have shown that it is incredibly rare for someone with a mental illness to commit gross acts of violence, especially on such a scale as the Virginia Tech shootings. Violence is no more prevalent among individuals with mental illness than the general public, and often are more likely the victims of violence than the perpetrators. Along with its continued disapproval of media portrayals of mental illness, USPRA is concerned that the focus on the student shooterâ??s possible mental illness will cause many students with mental illnesses on college campuses to not seek mental health services or be treated with suspicion as potential murderers, leading to their further isolation and discrimination.

â??USPRA is disheartened that the media continues to play to peopleâ??s misperceptions by painting mental illness as evil and something to fear,â?? said Marcie Granahan, CAE, chief executive officer of USPRA. â??For thirty years, we have been working to break down the barriers and stigma associated with severe mental illness. Along with our members, we have developed the practice of psychiatric rehabilitation that leads to recovery and provides hope. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the 32 victims and also to those of the suspected shooter. This incident underscores the need for quality campus mental health services and psychiatric rehabilitation support for college students with mental illnesses.â??

Psychiatric rehabilitation professionals have conducted research on the experiences of college students with mental illnesses and have created state-of-the-art rehabilitation interventions to support these students to maximize their success and full inclusion. Mark Salzer, Ph.D., from the University of Pennsylvania Collaborative on Community Integration, recently conducted a survey where he found that college students with mental illnesses feel more alienated from other students and their campuses compared to the general college student. â??The response to college students with mental illnesses should be to embrace and support them, rather than further alienate them by greatly underemphasizing any supposed inclination toward violence,â?? stated Dr. Salzer.

It is the hope of USPRA that the nation may learn from the Virginia Tech shootings that all individuals, college students included, have the right to necessary and appropriate mental health and rehabilitation services, and should be treated with dignity and respect, not with fear and shame. The continued portrayal of mental illness as a cause or precursor for violent acts is stigmatizing and discriminatory to a vulnerable population. In the wake of such a national tragedy receiving world-wide media coverage, USPRA urges all media networks to avoid over generalizations about the link between mental illness and violence.

601 Global Way * Suite 106
Linthicum, MD 21090
410-789-7054 (ph) 410-789-7675 (fax)
info@uspra.org www.uspra.org

Hi all,

I received this today from the Human Rights Campaign. If you agree that this is important to you and the people you love, please click on the link and let you Congress person know. Thanks!


Here's the letter:

Every morning, someone you know takes the long way to class. Someone you care about looks over his shoulder on the street. Someone you love fears for her safety.

All because people hate them for being who they are.

We're closer than ever to passing a federal hate crimes law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity. But right now, your lawmakers are being barraged with calls and emails from anti-gay groups. It's horrifying that they'd pick this of all issues to be against-but it's happening.

The House has already introduced its hate crimes bill. We're holding a press conference on THURSDAY, the day the Senate introduces its identical bill, to announce all the support behind us. We need your voice, even if you've already sent a message on this issue.

Click here to send your letter to Congress before Thursday's press conference.

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This content came in an email from Senator Clinton today. Please act:

"Last week the Senate passed historic legislation that calls for a phased redeployment for our troops in Iraq while ensuring they have the support they need. It's an important first step in ending the war to Iraq. But President Bush has threatened to veto the bill.

The American people have had enough of the president's failed strategy in Iraq. Join Hillary and me in telling him to listen to the will of the people and to Congress, withdraw his veto threat, and begin phased deployment of the troops out of Iraq."

Link