Mother speaks out about mental illness after shooting
Updated: December 17, 2012
WAPELLA -- The tragedy in Sandy Hook is bringing awareness to mental health issues. Brooke Cooper says a lot of people are afraid of her son. He has been struggling with mental illness since he was three; much like a mother in a blog that's gone viral.
It is called "I am Adam Lanza's Mother" and it is opening up people's eyes to children who are mentally ill and extremely violent. A life that Brooke Cooper is familiar with.
"Their lives are normal except for five minutes here or there and it's those five minutes that define the rest of their life," said Brooke Cooper.
It is those moments that sculpt how Brooke Cooper raises her son.
"He doesn't have guns. He's not allowed to play with BB guns. He's not allowed to have a NERF gun because I am not going to give him even that small window of 'role play,'" said Cooper.
Her son, who she didn't want to show on camera, has been diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder and is Bipolar but he is more than his diagnosis. Cooper says he is compassionate and kind.
"My son is incredibly intelligent, sometimes too much for his own good, so he doesn't qualify for programs that would put him in a special school," said Cooper.
And since his aggression doesn't last for long, she says he doesn't qualify for special needs programs.
"Much like, I would almost bet, a lot of these unfortunate people who created these crimes," said Cooper.
That is why this mom is relating to his blog. It was written by a mother of a 13 year old who is undiagnosed but can become violent at the drop of dime.
Cooper is hoping for change when it comes to mental Illinois education. She thinks there needs to be more research about the disorders and more people need to learn about them.
It is called "I am Adam Lanza's Mother" and it is opening up people's eyes to children who are mentally ill and extremely violent. A life that Brooke Cooper is familiar with.
"Their lives are normal except for five minutes here or there and it's those five minutes that define the rest of their life," said Brooke Cooper.
It is those moments that sculpt how Brooke Cooper raises her son.
"He doesn't have guns. He's not allowed to play with BB guns. He's not allowed to have a NERF gun because I am not going to give him even that small window of 'role play,'" said Cooper.
Her son, who she didn't want to show on camera, has been diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder and is Bipolar but he is more than his diagnosis. Cooper says he is compassionate and kind.
"My son is incredibly intelligent, sometimes too much for his own good, so he doesn't qualify for programs that would put him in a special school," said Cooper.
And since his aggression doesn't last for long, she says he doesn't qualify for special needs programs.
"Much like, I would almost bet, a lot of these unfortunate people who created these crimes," said Cooper.
That is why this mom is relating to his blog. It was written by a mother of a 13 year old who is undiagnosed but can become violent at the drop of dime.
Cooper is hoping for change when it comes to mental Illinois education. She thinks there needs to be more research about the disorders and more people need to learn about them.
