It was a news story that swept the world by storm on April 20, 1999. Two teenage boys went on a shooting spree at Columbine High School that resulted in the deaths of 12 students and one teacher and injured dozens more.
In this video from TEDMED Talks, Sue Klebold, the mother of Dylan Klebold, who was one of the shooters in this mass shooting, tells her story and advocates for the very important link between mental health and violence — in particular, that between suicide and homicidal thinking.
“The last time I heard my son’s voice was when he walked out the front door on his way to school,” Sue recalls of the morning of the day she will never forget.
Sue goes on to divulge that it has taken her years to come to terms with what happened on that day at Columbine High School and the sheer magnitude of its repercussions. She shares that after the mass shooting involving her son, countless people asked her, “How could you not know? What kind of a mother were you?”
Months after the shooting and her son’s death, Sue found a notebook that belonged to Dylan in which he laid out that he had been cutting himself for some time and how much he wanted to get a gun to end his life. With that in mind, Sue asks for people’s compassion as she discusses the events of the Columbine shooting as Dylan’s suicide.
“When I talk about his death as a suicide, I’m not trying to downplay the viciousness that he showed at the end of his life,” Sue explains. “I’m trying to understand how his suicidal thinking led to murder.”
To hear Sue break down the important links between suicide and homicidal thinking, please watch the video.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
