Reposted from Tim Richardson

If you see something, DO something

There are so many questions today after a Florida State University student killed two men and injured seven others on campus yesterday. I never imagined that the campus where my wife and I spent many classroom hours learning, researching, writing papers, and in my case teaching others as a graduate student, would make the news in this horrible way. When tragedies like this happen, I wonder what, if anything, could have been done to prevent them. Were there signs that the shooter was unstable or that he needed professional help? Did a friend or family member notice a recent behavior change? Was he experiencing an unusual amount of stress or anxiety? Anxiety related illnesses has skyrocketed since smartphones and social media use became popular – particularly among young people. There has been trend of rising anxiety and depression diagnoses among U.S. college undergraduates with the spread of smartphones (2010–2018). Anxiety climbed from ~10% to ~24% (a 134% increase since 2010), and depression rose ~106%. Source: American College Health Association.

Studies at Columbia University Department of Psychiatry have shown a clear link between heavy social media use and negative mental health outcomes like depression, anxiety, loneliness, and even suicidal ideation. While nothing has been reported about the shooter’s motive, this situation is yet another reminder that these terrible incidents aren’t going away. In fact, they are becoming more and more common. This is the 6th school shooting in Florida this year.

Of course, we don’t know all the reasons why these tragedies continue to occur. But we do know that stress, rapid rates of change, and smartphone and social media use are all affecting our mental health in a big way. Every form of anxiety is increasing and increasing dramatically. And it’s not just college students who are affected. Our workplaces employ people of all ages. Until yesterday, I had no awareness that April was Workplace Violence Month. Not only should awareness increase in April, but awareness also needs to be ongoing. Don’t get caught up in the idea that, “it can’t happen here.” Most organizational leaders probably didn’t sign up to be counselors, protectors, or referees in the workplace but it’s becoming increasingly clear that those skills are needed in today’s world. We all need to have more awareness. I would encourage leaders to learn more about what causes anxiety and mental illness and provide internal training and education. Make sure employees have options for counseling services and regularly remind your team that if they need a minute, or an hour, or a day, give them opportunities to pause and let them know it’s okay to struggle and that it is okay to ask for help. If you have a story, share it. We need to normalize and prioritize mental health issues in our schools, colleges, and the workplace. For several years, we have heard this: If you see something, say something. Sadly, yesterday proved again how important that statement has become. Today, I would add that if you see something, don’t just say something, do something too. You can start with prayers for the entire FSU community.

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