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  • Isolating and withdrawn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