Mental health, discipline and guidance awareness

Dear Editor:

This was a 17 year old teen who made the conscientious decision to steal an 8 year old child's sneakers. When the teen couldn't get the sneakers from the boy at school, the teen took it one step too far and went to the boy's home on Nov. 14 and ultimately senselessly stabbed the younger boy's father. Discipline and guidance must start at the home from an early age with parents and or caregivers playing an active role. Mental health awareness is very important and parents and caregivers need to be trained in how to be alert for possible emotional problems in their child/teen. This should be done through a partnership between school/law enforcement/non-profit agencies. This problem is one that transcends race, religion and income.

Janice Greenberg