Jared Lee Loughner

How could Jared Lee Loughner’s parents miss the many signs he was capable of allegedly shooting and killing six people and injuring 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ)?

National Association of Social Workers member Frederic Reamer, DSW, answered these questions in this column penned by Philadelphia Daily News columnist Jenice Armstrong.

Reamer, who is a professor in the graduate program at the Rhode Island College School of Social Work, said parents may be so dysfunctional they do not notice their offspring are suffering mentally.

“When the communication between the parents and the young adults is not constructive . . . so often parents are not the consistent influence that you would like to think,” Reamer said.

Social workers help clients cope with mental illness and emotional stress. To learn more, visit the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” Mind and Spirit Web page by clicking here.