Just a reminder: Most people with mental illness are NOT violent.

[bettyellen]

60. well spree killers are usually having a psychotic break that might have been prevented

by proper treatment. there are usually warning signs, with odd, inappropriate, often paranoid and loner type behavior starting in puberty and spiraling down into delusions the late teens to early twenties. unfortunately it usually doesn't blow up till they are close to 18 and can refuse treatment. Early intervention is key, because when the spree starts its just too damn late. medications today can usually control the voices and invasive thoughts that trouble schizophrenics and people who has suffered from serious psychosis. but they may find it hard to go on knowing if they've already done a great deal of damage to innocents, because when they get clarity, they do have a conscience and don't understand their actions any better than outsiders do. sprees are messy mass murder events, one offs and rarely is there a viable escape plan. they are generally big "fuck you" and "goodbye world" type events.

sociopaths (serials) have no conscience- and fool most people and hide their behavior so they can continue to operate. early danger signs for serial killers are abuse of animals and younger children when they are young. as they get older they usually hide the behavior better. they are generally considered un treatable and very manipulative. serial means it is a recurring event, and there is usually a greater effort made to avoid detection and escape to do it again. they usually take a compulsive enjoyment in the events.

of course most sufferers of schizophrenia are harmless, as are many other who suffer from different mental illnesses and they should not be demonized. i am only explaining because people do tend to lump all mental illness together and not realize what huge variation there is.
my brother had schizophrenia, and i know from experience how few people even know what that means. most people assume it's just bad depression.