Mental Health Help In Wake of Massacre

Investigators looking for a motive in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre may have found one.A friend of Adam Lanza’s mother says the 20 year old could have been upset that his mother was trying to commit him to a mental health facility.Local mental health professionals say it is difficult to commit a loved one against their will due to the rights of adults and privacy laws.But the director of the National Alliance on Mental illness says NAMI can offer help.Ratan Bhavnani says when there is treatment there is recovery.NAMI offers 12 week courses for free.They cover all aspects of mental health including medicine and side effects.Meloney Roy, the director of Ventura County Behavioral Health, says they have a 24 hour crisis team as well.Thanks to the Mental Health Service Act passed by voters almost a decade ago funding is available for programs that can save lives.Both say it is rare for mentally ill people to be violent.They say data shows mentally ill patients are more likely to be victims.They are shocked by what happened, but hope it will open up a dialogue that will make a difference.Crisis Hotline:866-998-2243Transformational Liaisons Pam Roach 805-981-4227, Maria Hernandez 805-981-3331Websites:National Alliance on Mental IllnessVentura County Behavioral Health Share your comments about this story with us on the KEY News Facebook page. Connect with KEY News on Twitter