thoughts on mental health

So I don't know how many of you have seen the news about the clackamas community college student who wrote threats about a shooting spree on his my space page. He is not one of my students (thank goodness), but it has spurred quite the turmoil on campus and brought up many issues of student vs. staff rights, safety, and well-being. This is the one part of my job(or working in mental health in general) that i truly hate. I don't mind the long hours, the emotional exhaustion, the chaos, and even the really mean students- (in fact those are some of my favorites). It is the feeling of complete helplessness that I despise. For a control freak such as myself it is a hard concept to grasp. It also goes against my general (yet naive) belief that there is enough love, help, counseling, friendship, mentors to reach every lost kid. I hope this situation resolves itself and this student gets the help he needs. I also hope that the work I do with my students is enough that I never have to face this situation any more up close and personal then this. and lastly I hope to raise Rory in a way that she will not only never feel isolated enough to be this student, but that she will treat all other people in a way that maybe it will prevent others from feeling such complete dispair. Okay, enought rambling. time to go hug the baby!
PS- as if this week wasn't depressing enough, now I am old and I have a scary job. lovely.
I promise next entry will be back to pictures and happy tellings of Rory's latest acheivements.