Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
June 14, 2007, Vol. 07-96

Secretary Mike Leavitt: Review of the Virginia Tech Tragedy

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Secretary Leavitt releases Report to the President http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/violence.html

Findings and Recommendations

"We found great commonality in the themes that emerged from our meetings. Following the Virginia Tech tragedy and similar incidents of violence that have occurred in recent years, states and local communities are carefully considering whether they have properly addressed and balanced the fundamental interests of privacy and individual freedom, safety and security, and assisting those with mental health needs in getting appropriate care. Although state and local leaders recognized and underscored that these issues primarily must be resolved at the state and local level, these events make all of us ask whether there is more we can and should be doing.. the report serves to focus our attention on the issues that must be part of the ongoing national dialogue as we continue to protect the freedoms we enjoy in our society, while appropriately minimizing risks to public safety." Secretary Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary Margaret Spellings, and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Report to the President On Issues Raised By The Virginia Tech Tragedy (PDF version) http://www.hhs.gov/vtreport.html.

Remarks by Secretary Leavitt After Presentation of Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy.

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The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.