No single behavior predicts a student will become violent. A child or teen may exhibit several traits often cited as cause for concern -- such as being "different" or a loner -- that may simply mean he or she is a creative, independent individual.

However, a great deal is known about when adults should pay attention.

• Pay attention to a child’s verbal or behavioral cries for help. When a child is troubled or unable to cope, adults need to listen and response with appropriate action.
• Pay attention to kids who are bullied, harassed and tormented by others. Adults and peers need to speak up against the mistreatment and abuse these children face every day.

Some of the widely accepted red flags for potential violence include these:

• Making threats
• Making specific plans to hurt oneself or others
• Depression
• Bottled-up rage or explosive anger
• Shame
• Little value for life or hope for the future
• History of being victimized at home or by peers
• Desire for revenge
• Obsessive interest in violence, death, playing violent video games
• Obsessive interest in and access to weapons
• Cruelty to animals
• Destructive to property/environment
• Recent rejection or loss

In his book "Lost Boys," Dr. James Garbarino said all violent boys share “a common sense of inner crisis, a crisis of shame and emptiness. These boys are ashamed of who they are inside, and their effort to compensate for that shame drives their violence. It may be buried under layer after layer of protective bravado or it may be worn like a badge on their sleeves, but it is there.”

What must adults do?

• Intervene when someone signals his or her intent to commit an act of violence.
• Create environments where children and youth feel safe and accepted, and where they can count on adults to protect them and pay attention to their needs.
• When a young person makes a threat, take it seriously. If he or she is depressed, get him or her the necessary help. Don't dismiss students' comments about hurting themselves or someone else as ploys for attention.
• Take the time to talk and listen to young people and help them feel safe, needed and valued.
• Don’t ignore bullying and harassment among young people or rationalize that bullying is "just the way it is.” It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s up to each of us to make the peace.