In light of the violent shootings occurring across the U.S., the importance of gun control issues has fallen short of solving a problem that many think is due to a lack of preemptively detecting mental illness in peers.

President Barack Obama has pulled gun control to the forefront of many government officials’ minds by forming a task force to come up with proposals to reduce and control gun violence in the U.S.

Obama is examining the issue of increased gun violence from a variety of perspectives, said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney in a Jan. 9 press briefing.

“When six and seven year olds are gunned down in their own school, there’s a problem here that we need to address,” Carney said in the briefing. “And it’s not just a gun control problem. It goes beyond that, as the President has said.”

Carney said Obama and Vice President Joe Biden hope pro-gun organizations will bring helpful ideas to the table when they meet with them in the coming weeks — ideas that will approach the problem from perspectives other than just gun control.

“The president believes that in the wake of the incident at Newtown … we must as a nation examine every possible action that we could plausibly take to reduce this terrible scourge of gun violence,” Carney said.

Lynne Martin, director of UNA student counseling services, said it is possible for peers and faculty to identify warning signs of mental illness in students to prevent future violence.

According to UNA’s brochure on assisting students in distress, some of these warning signs include a marked decline in academic performance, exaggerated and inappropriate reactions to a situation, disruptive behavior, hyperactivity or rapid speech, deterioration in hygiene, dramatic weight loss or gain, a loss of contact with reality, depressed mood or lethargy, numerous class absences and other bizarre behaviors.

At press time, Obama and Biden released that they would announce a plan to reduce gun violence in the U.S. and in schools and businesses around the nation.

Martin said detecting mental illness in students and taking action is a good prevention method in promoting school safety.

Some of these actions, as stated in the brochure, are to consult with a professional, meet privately with the student, and “listen to thoughts and feelings in a sensitive, non-threatening way.”

Recently, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security came out with a campaign to aid employees, students and people in the workplace to stay safe and survive an active shooter situation.

When taking these steps, students need to set firm boundaries with personal safety in mind, according to the brochure. Martin said the action taken “depends on the severity and situation.”

After students take logical steps toward promoting safety, the UNA counseling services are available for referrals and timely scheduling.

To speak with counseling services, call 256-765-5215, or for urgent situations, call UNA campus police at 256-765-4357.