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Would targeting mental illness stop more mass shootings? 

It's an idea that is mentioned frequently in the wake of tragedies, including the recent shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that left 

 is murky at best. Some of his behavior distressed classmates and worried teachers. His actions were reported to both therapists and law enforcement. He was seen by crisis health workers and 

. Diagnosis of a severe mental illness has not been made public. 

People often think that a severe mental illness refers to a spectrum of how bad any diagnosable mental illness might be. But, 

, vice chairwoman of community psychiatry at the University of California-Davis, said to MPR News that health professionals use the term in a specific way. "If you considered everything in there [

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

] a mental illness you would be including things like caffeine intoxication and certain sleep problems. When we talk about severe mental illness we're talking about things like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder...severe depression."

However, even if a diagnosis of a severe mental illness is released in the coming days, it would put the alleged shooter in the minority when compared to his peers. A study of mass 235 mass murders conducted by Dr. Michael Stone of Columbia University found that only 

A separate study found that the risk of violence associated with mental illness alone is only 

The fact so many conversations on mental illness come in the wake of violence is a point of frustration for 

, executive director of the Treatment Advocacy Center. 

"When these tragedies happen the discussion is often focused on how didn't this person get care. And I think it's important that we try to flip that discussion and think about the fact that these sorts of incidents are rare. But, even these sorts of situations where we have folks who are really sick and really in need of care... even then the system is not working. And, so for everybody else who is trying to get care, they're struggling even more."

 to people getting the care that they need.

Since the John F Kennedy Community Mental Health Act of 1963 about  

90 percent of beds reserved for the mentally ill

 in state hospitals have been eliminated.

Costs, limited access to care and stigma have contributed to a triage approach to treating people with mental illness. One major factor in determining whether or not a patient gets care is by assessing if they are in danger of harming themselves or others. 

Snook points out that waiting for patients to reach dangerous levels is not how we treat any other illness. 

In his work, he fields calls from all over the country. "Families say I knew my loved one was sick. This has happened over and over again. He stopped taking his medication. He stopped showering. He was talking to himself. If we could have gotten him care a month ago, we know that we could have gotten him back on track. But everyone we called, said, 'Well, he doesn't sound dangerous." Snook understands the frustration that causes families. 

"Who cares if he is dangerous or not?" Snook said. "He is sick."  

 Use the audio player above to hear the full discussion.

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Mental health is frequently brought up in the wake of major tragedies. Could improving the current system prevent future massacres?

The 19 year-old shooter who killed 17 classmates and teachers in Parkland, Florida had no diagnosed mental illness. But his actions have sparked calls for more attention to mental health in the U.S. John Snook of the Treatment Advocacy Center and Amy Barnhorst of the University of California, Davis joined host Stephanie Curtis to talk about mental health care and stigma.

Is there a connection between mental health and mass shootings?

Flowers attached to a fence near Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Would targeting mental illness stop more mass shootings?

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