Warning Signs
Verbal Clues
- Direct and indirect threats
- Verbalizing a violent plan
- Recurrent suicide threats or statements
- Verbal wishes to kill, be killed or die
- Threatens to bring weapon to school/work
- Brags about having weapons
- Threatening/harassing phone calls or e-mails
- Statements of hopelessness
- Bragging of violent behavior/fantasies
- Challenging or intimidating statements
- Idolizes school violence offenders
Bizarre Thoughts
- Believes themselves to be a victim in every situation
- Paranoia
- Delusions in general
- Command hallucinations (in the form of commands to self or others)
- Grandiose delusions that involve power, control and/or destruction
- Significantly deteriorated thought processes
Behavioral/Physical Cues
- Physical altercation/assault upon others – frequent fighting
- Inappropriate weapons possession or use
- Writings/drawings with intense violent themes
- Stalking/surveillance of targeted individuals
- Short fuse, loss of emotional control
- Bullying or victim of bullying
- Deteriorating physical appearance/self-care
- Isolating and withdrawn
- Signs of depression/severe mood swings
- Inappropriate displays of emotion
- Self-injurious behavior
- Cruelty to pets or animals
- Sudden unexplained drop in grades or academic performance