Several parts of South Florida have seen a rash of murder-suicide crimes in just the past five months.
Last month in Hialeah, police were investigating the shooting death of a 6-year-old boy at the hands of his father, who then turned the gun on himself.
Last Sunday, a man shot and killed his elderly parents and partner in southwest Miami-Dade County before taking his own life.
A few days later, a shooting occurred in Coral Gables that left a man and woman dead and the woman's son hospitalized.
Then on Friday, another tragedy occurred when a woman and child were killed in their minivan at a Chase bank in southwest Miami-Dade County, before the gunman killed himself.
As police try to uncover the motive behind these horrific murders, mental health experts say there are often warning signs to look out for before tragedy strikes.
“People are overwhelmed and many are not getting mental health care,” Dr. Delvena Thomas, a licensed psychiatrist, told NBC 6. “Abusers often show red flags at the beginning. They can be very impulsive, have trouble controlling their emotions, can't control their anger, and so on, going from zero to 1,000.”
Dr. Thomas said that when you first notice these warning signs, you should believe them and cut off all ties with that person, because oftentimes the behavior never changes.
Another challenge experts see is that there remains a stigma around seeking mental health care, and people in crisis often feel isolated and unsupported.
“There's something called a 'self-fulfilling prophecy,'” says Dr. Thomas. “'I'm always alone and I have no friends,' and people act to create that scenario for themselves. They become withdrawn, they become unsociable, and they stop interacting with other people.”
If you suspect someone may be trying to commit suicide, there are also important signs to look out for.
“They don't interact with their families, they don't answer the phone, they don't reply to text messages, they start talking only about today and no longer about the future,” Dr. Thomas said.
But there is always someone willing to help, she said.
“Don't give up, keep trying. It's important to be resilient, tenacious and resilient in your own mental health care, and love yourself for that,” Dr Thomas said.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or chat live at 988lifeline.org. For additional support, visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
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