After reading the Sun Journal article, “Profile of a murderer” (Oct. 3), one might think that if a family member or associate of Christopher Sean Harper-Mercer had some education and understanding of mental health, Harper-Mercer might have received care and the mass shooting murders might not have taken place. That situation seems to be the case with many mass shootings.

And, as we focus on October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we might think that more emphasis on mental health education and care might help reduce abuse and murders as well as encourage an abused person to leave an abuser more quickly. A mental health emphasis might also reduce passing on abusive behavior from one generation to the next.

We have an opportunity now that mental health problems and education are being brought into the sunlight by various writers and organizations to focus on the roots of abusive and violent behavior.

Tom Fallon, Rumford