Dr. Sid Khurana Featured on News 3 LV: Psychology of School Threats
There has been a recent surge in school threats in the Las Vegas area. Questions on if some of the threats are copycats have arisen, but that doesn’t take away from locals’ concerns about the increase in threats.
Nevada Mental Health’s own Dr. Sid Khurana was recently featured on News 3 Las Vegas in a segment covering the psychology behind school threats and copycat behavior.
Dr. Khurana clarifies that most teenagers who make these threats aren’t necessarily fascinated with violence. Instead, they are fascinated by the recognition and identification. This leads to clusters of threats happening around the same time, which Dr. Khurana calls a “pathological imitation.” These clusters happen after an initial incident 20%-30% of the time.
There are other factors that contribute to young people acting out these fantasies, including unaddressed mental health concerns and a history of neglect or abuse.
Whether or not the threats are copycats or not, it is important to take them seriously. Children who threaten schools can be charged with making terroristic threats.
At Nevada Mental Health, we understand the unique struggles that children face in our society today, including how social media affects their lives. If you are worried about your child, contact us today.
Learn more about our psychiatry services at Nevada Mental Health here.
Watch the News 3 Las Vegas Segment Featuring Dr. Khurana:
