I hope that killer doesn't have bipolar disorder. If he does, I'm curious about his treatment plan, too.

Googling for info about the impact of war on the mentally ill, I came across Understanding Your Mental Health in Times of War from National Mental Health Association here:

http://www.nmha.org/reassurance/mentalHealthWar.cfm

Much has been written since 9/11 on this subject. The current action in the Middle East is sure to have an emotional impact all over the world. Whatever we can do to prevent hate crime, we must do.

Great blogging, Philip!

Best,
Moira

This is such a tragic event.

I am going to toss this out there, that I believe this man chose to do what he did.

Bipolar was not the trigger.

This is one time, that I just feel bipolar (or mental illness )needs to be left out of the commentary being given in the description of a cold blooded murderer,that was driven by hatred.

This is just my opinion, of course, but walking into a building, and using a child as a shield to gain the ability to shoot and kill, was calculated, and planned, based on a belief of his, and he made a choice that day. A choice that ruined lives of innocent people.

Could this be when someone "snapped" who has mental illness? I dont think so.

I do always wonder about the families of murderers, and how devastating it is to endure newscrews in an aftermath of a tragedy like this, and know it was your family member who is guilty. This is where another tragic moment lies at the feet of many families. Leaving the shooter's family to try and explain their loved one's actions. I feel bad for them too.

This is a multi-faceted tragic event, that needs careful media reporting done.

Hi, Philip. I'm on my way out the door for a bipolar conference in Edinburgh. You know TAC will have an article on the op-ed page of the Post-Intelligencer or Times. This is their MO, to prey on local tragedy. This is the time to call in your journalistic markers and get your buddies to reserve op-ed space for you. You're the only one in Seattle who can put it into perspective.

This may seem harsh but I need to vent it....

I am so sick and tired of people using their mental illness or supposed mental illness as an excuse for their behavior.

As many of you know, I was fired from my job, left with nothing, forced to withdraw my life savings, my retirement, my 401k to the tune of almost 50k. Also left in my possession was a gun, several police uniforms, police ID's, a gun belt, keys to every police vehicle within King County and much more.

I was unable to get a job, completely overmedicated at the time, begging for money, feeling worthless, humiliated, alienated and totally depressed.

Not once did I commit a criminal act or even consider the thought of that.

This was the act of a sociopath. The media (not you Philip) does a great job sensationalizing mental illness, especially Bipolar these days but what about 99% of us, who function everday and strive to make our lives better and take our meds.

We take the high road. We seek help through shrinks, who sometimes make things worse, but we keep trying.

Yet, situations like this sends us steps back. I guess we have to take the hits. I am at a loss at what else we can do.

The Right to own a gun goes out the window if you have been Involuntarily committed to a psych hosp or on a Least restrictive order from court in King County.
Due to insurance running out, my daughter, at age 17 was ITA(invol committed)but was willing to do so to seek treatment from a private hospital last summer.
At that point, she was told she cannot own a gun and must give up any permit to one.She didnt have one, nor did she want to own a gun.
In a way, this falls along the lines of the forced medication thought process:
Just because she has an ITA on her record she cannot own a gun.
She never threatened anyone with a weapon in her life. But now there is a what? a basic assumption? that because she was in a psych hosp she could be a danger to society with a gun in the future?
Why not force feed meds and remove all knives, scissors, and fists for that matter.
Mental illness and discrimination, it's a nasty world.

Stephany,
Not to ruin your day but I would like to point out a couple more injustices in the world.

I know a former police officer, with an Involuntary Committment on his record (after an OD on sleep meds) who was allowed to go back to his position as a Vice cop, who then retired and got another job as a court deputy, yet again, allowed to carry a County issued weapon.

And another Officer, who spent time in Western State after a breakdown. He currently still works for the County.

And yet another Officer, who was suicidal, held himself at gunpoint, having to have the hostage negiotiation team talk him out of killing himself. He still works for the County.

All these Officer's, though good people, were afforded the benefit of the good old boys system.

It's too bad the rest of the old cannot be afforded these protections.

Angie,
Thank you. Thank you for being the "fall guy" in this shitty situation. You do not stand alone. In the last 11 months, I have been tossed into a "psychiatric" "good old boys" system, and have had to basically grow balls to try and help my daughter.
The injustice does not stop there.
This is the time, I truly believe, we should not take the high road.
I am moving forward into a "stand alone" area. I am writing letters to Editors, and saying who I am.
I am tired of seeing innocent people being persecuted in the media due to a "background" of mental illness.
I stand with you.
The more we all unite, the louder we get.
-Stephany

Musings From Seattle Weekly's Blog/ namely an Editor named Chuck Taylor:

---------
Monday Telegraph Room
Posted July 31 at 1:26 am by Chuck Taylor
..."... Where does mental illness end and hate begin? The poor parents of enigmatic and not-surprisingly bipolar Naveed Haq, the Muslim-raised Tri-Citian who shot six women at the Jewish Federation downtown on Friday."-chuck taylor/editor/seattle weekly....
-------------
Excuse me, Chuck.
"Not- surprisingly bipolar.."
That is one offensive statement, an assumption by (you?) that someone had to be mentally ill to have committed this horrific crime? Could you clarify who made the statement "not-surprisingly bipolar.."?
Thanks.

Posted July 31 at 11:09 am by Stephany
---------------------------------------
"I'm not saying you'd have to be mentally ill to do this, but given what we know about his life—all the contradictions, his behavior—I'm not the least bit surprised that he is bipolar. Without putting too fine a point on it, I know what I'm talking about.

There are too ways of looking at this crime: You can look at the act in isolation and puzzle over how it could be rationalized by the perp, or you can look at the broader reality that mental illness played a big role. Hence my first sentence: "Where does mental illness end and hate begin?"

I think a lot of people were quick to label this a hate crime, which to me is something perpetrated by a rational person, before determining whether it might just be insanity with political influence. It's a complicated discussion of semantics, and it might not be worth having."

Posted July 31 at 11:29 am by Chuck Taylor
-------------------------------------------------
"I have to say I have never heard of crime being done by a rational person. Before jumping to the hate crime discussion, I would rather not have it leap towards a mental illness made him do it, discussion, because, due to his irrational behavior, he must have been mentally ill.
I too know what I am talking about, and would like to have a rational discussion regarding mental illness and leaving the hate crime part out of it."

Posted yesterday at 5:40 pm by Stephany
-----------------------------------------------
"Regarding mental illness and crime.
The fact is, that not all people with bipolar are violent, or potential murderers as a result of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. There are many people with bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, OCD, etc. in America suffering in silence, without support, for fear that they will be lumped into a broad sweep of assumption such as this, that "given a background" with mental illness, someone will or could presume they could too, be able to do such a horrific crime.
Afraid to lose loved ones, jobs, careers and friends, they keep it to themselves. Just for this reason. The promotion of of mental health stigma is fueled in a negative arena of media reports when one person makes the headlines. Bipolar and a shooter. This was an enormous tragedy, and it is a hate crime.
The ripple effect of negative media attention on mental illness due to a tragedy as this, leaves so many people afraid to seek medical attention,or support, because they don't want to be labeled.
Not all people with bipolar disorder are violent, and never will be.
Thanks."

Posted yesterday at 6:07 pm by Stephany
----------------------------------------------
"This is an intolerable and judgemental form of thinking, and is not justified.
I expect more from any newspaper, and am disappointed in one Editor's personal commentary on the Seattle Weekly's blog.
Chuck Taylor, please meet my daughter, and you may change your ignorant assumption that a "background" leaves you "not surprised". Your comment is insulting, and not acceptable, especially because you have a journalistic platform to stand on, that carries out into the generally ignorant public, regarding mental illness. There are so many people living life, right in front of you, and yet, you do not see them, who have mental illness.
We do not speak, for fear of people like you, quick to judge, and to close the case.
How unfortunate to have such a closed mind. Tom Cruise wanna-be.
Meet me, I am Stephany Newman, and not afraid to speak up."

Posted today at 6:35 pm by Stephany (8.02.06)
--------------------------------------------
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE SILENT.

Letter to the Editor:
Mental Illness and Crime

"I'm not the least bit surprised that he is bipolar."--Chuck Taylor, Managing Editor, Seattle Weekly.



Regarding the recent shooting in Seattle, I find this an alarming statement. More so, I am alarmed that it was said by a person who makes a living as a reporter, or Editor of a newspaper. So readily stating his personal belief regarding mental illness, one will hope that he will not take his biased attitude off of the Weekly's blog and into the Weekly's news reporting.
Such statements are stigma promoting and discriminatory at best. The broadsweep that takes place for all people with mental illness as a result of statements like Chuck Taylor's are what keep many people with mental illness from speaking up, for fear of ignorant and basic assumptions, that they too, could be labeled as potentially violent. As a result, many suffer in silence, fearful of losing jobs, careers, friends and loved ones.Some may even avoid seeking treatment, for fear of being labeled a potential menace to society. Not all people with bipolar are violent, and never will be.

Stephany

More from the Weekly Blog: Chuck, Stand a bit more tall please.

Chuck:"I think I've been misunderstood. What I meant is simply that, after examining Haq's behavior over the years, it's not surprising that he had been diagnosed as bipolar."
Again? 3 times the charm Chuck?
Not surprised? with so many words, these are all you can find?
Here is what happened since I wrote last:---

To clarify further and leave it at this:
Chuck:
Just remember, the general public does not understand mental illness, what it is like to live with it, with family members who have it, etc. When one makes a standard comment, such as "not-surprisingly bipolar", it fuels exactly what NAMI as well as most of us want stopped. Undue stigma promotion. Without explanation of what you "knew", it leaves a reader with no background of mental illness awareness to assume, that anyone with it, could be able to do such a horrific crime.Discrimination then rears its ugly head.
With much knowledge about mental illness, I understand your possible excitement to raise public awareness regarding a devastating, chronic and really big topic in America. But "not surprised" as you have written 3 times now, needed further explanation.
It is with this knowledge that you bear the burden of specific details that explain, and make aware the public. Knowing as much as you say that you do, Chuck, I also wish that you did stop to take a moment and explain how mental illness affects so many people, and I would rather have the commentary steer towards, "just because the shooter was bipolar, let us not judge anyone we know who has mental illness as a result."
This crime is, like I stated, multi-faceted, and it revolves around hate, beliefs, etc, and there will never be any good explanation.
It is when we have to take time to be silent for those who suffered, as well as make sure, as torch bearers for mental illness due to our knowledge and background, to make sure that others with mental illness, such as bipolar are not shoved into a dark corner, afraid to come forward, or speak up, for fear of simple statements, like "not surprised".
I would hate it if someone said that about my daughter.(Or myself.Or some one I love.)
They would then never know the kind heart, the gentle spirit, they would judge her(or me, or someone I love) unfairly and never give it another thought.
"not surprised" is not the way to shed a positive light on mental illness, or even NAMI for that matter.(hmm does the general public know what NAMI is?)
I appreciate your reply, as I said, but please keep in mind the ripple effect of simple statements that can become inflammatory in a public arena, that never know what it is like to spend time on medication,in psych offices or in hospitals.
The true hidden hearts of gold are many that I have had the privilege of spending time with in psychiatric hospitals.I have witnessed miracles, recoveries, sadness, pain, wonder, and excitement, all within walls of psychiatric wards, not because I was a patient, because I was a visitor. I have been given a gift to meet so many people, words cannot explain the brilliant, wonderful, amazing human being, people. I met in the last year.
These people deserve respect, dignity and our concern.
I have to say, with such knowledge and background regarding mental illness, Chuck, I am still surprised you would not see from a public point of view, what your statement fueled.(a stigma towards your own family member(s)or loved ones)
Rewind the tape.
Start with what you wrote last.
Honesty, and upfront comments at a very important time, when the community is hurting and wanting explanation. This is the time to say from the start, what you just said.
Oh for a platform like yours. Use it wisely.
Thanks.

Posted today at 9:45 pm by Stephany (8.03.06)
The day to a basic year, that I spent a day with my daughter, outside of a hospital, or doctor's appointment, we were free, she was free.
Anyone who has insight into mental illness, and has an Editor's job at a newspaper and does not know the enormous burden to shine the light to the public for mental illness awareness, well, just does not deserve the paycheck.
"I, poor as I am, wealth does not matter, because I, being poor, know the meaning of life."~Stephany Newman
Happiness.

Find this carnival word usage on the Seattle Weekly website, under the "daily" blog, go to July 31, post by Chuck Taylor, and follow with interest, and feel free to add to the voice I have created there.
I have and do walk alone, but , maybe, one time, there is someone out there who might reply?
Does anyone see the outrage here?
An Editor of a newspaper of 100,000+ readers has a platform, that he stood on, and now, retracts, and simplifies, hoping to gain our heartstrings?
Oh please. NAMI wife group. Chuck. Get your groove back.

Yeah, what Chuck wrote was bullshit and I called him on it, but in his defense........

He wrote me back....I believe he spoke out of context and maybe out of some other stuff going on. Stephany, you put if perfectly "Chuck, get your grove back."

I am sure he will.

Seattle Times Letters to Editor:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/letters/2003170862_thulets03.html

Generalized dysfunction

...".But the incident is not about the Middle East, or about Jews and Muslims. The shooting is about poorly managed mental illness."

Here we go.The Seattle Times letters are coming in, and there are too many leaning towards mental illness to blame.
Bipolar needs to be brought out in a positive article or letter now, or the stigma promotion may as well send us all back into our caves of silence.

I totally agree with almost all of your email respondents who do genuinely suffer from Bipolar but when certain bloggers claim they have never, "committed any criminal acts or thought of them," And go into long sermons about themselves and how good they were. I think it is a good time to look in the mirror. People don't forget what really happened. The word "mimic" comes to mind.