Policy makers and health care workers will gather at the University Thursday and Friday for a symposium about the role of mental health in violence.
The symposium, held annually, is hosted by the University's Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy and is organized by Clinical Psychiatric Medicine Prof. Janet Warren. This year's program features a workshop titled "Treating and Managing Psychopathy: An Innovative Perspective," headed by Jennifer Skeem, associate professor of psychology and social behavior at the University of California, Irvine. Skeem's research is at the forefront of the study of psychopathic personality disorder and its treatment.
A panel discussion titled "Reflections Upon the Virginia Tech Tragedy" will highlight Friday's schedule, addressing the April Virginia Tech shootings and recent changes proposed by the Virginia General Assembly that could lead to changes in mental health laws. Among Friday's panelists are Roger Depue, a member of the Virginia Tech Review Panel actively involved in analyzing the tragedy and the events leading up to it, and Richard Bonnie, University professor of medicine and law.
"I think it's clear that there were a lot of missed opportunities for intervention," Bonnie said. "Everyone in the mental health [industry] has a responsibility for thinking about how their own practice might be modified in response to some of these findings."
According to Institute Program Coordinator Edward Strickler, those attending the symposium will learn how to respond appropriately to warning signs of violence.
While the topic of this symposium is of particular interest because of the recent Virginia Tech shootings, the Institute annually hosts similar training sessions that feature different topics. Generally, programs are designed to provide basic and advanced training in forensic evaluation. This could mean for instance, deciding whether or not a defendant is mentally capable of standing trial, waiving Miranda rights or even facing execution. The sessions typically attract 500 to 1,000 attendees, according to Strickler.
"We will have an audience comprised of forensic psychologists and social workers," Strickler said. "We have interest from college and university health [systems], policy makers and others"
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