The tragedy in Newtown, Conn., and similar horrors elsewhere raise, yet again, public concern about persons who are both mentally ill and potentially dangerous.

In some cases, such as James Holmes in Colorado or Seung-Hui Cho at Virginia Tech, the potential for violence was evident to others who had knowledge of these shooters.

In both cases, existing mechanisms to prevent danger were not effective.

In Newtown, although Adam Lanza was recognized as being troubled, it appears that he was not accessing mental health services. (There are reports that his mother planned to relocate to Oregon where he could receive more intensive care than she found in Connecticut.)

Action is needed in five areas of our mental health system.

First, we need mental health services that are comprehensive, accessible, and effective.

In recent years, states have cut mental health more severely than any other area of health care. This was a false economy, increasing demands on emergency rooms, law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities and homeless shelters. The cost of quadrupling the number of mentally ill persons who are in prison has been fiscally irresponsible. The humanitarian costs - for patients, their families and their communities - are disgraceful. We are better than this. We should do better.

Second, new laws should help a loved one get involuntary care when needed and to ensure that the care will be beneficial.

Research has established effective treatments for individuals whose psychological condition is deteriorating. Scientific consensus affirms that the earliest interventions are the most effective. Unfortunately our present procedures make it difficult to intervene until a patient is gravely disabled. We need to be able to respond when a person is in acute distress - the time when the risk to self, family and community are highest. That's often when distressed individuals can't cooperate voluntarily.

Third, methods for early detection and monitoring of dangerousness need rethinking.

Requirements that mental health professionals make reports about possible dangerousness have been proposed. It is not clear whether such rules would have the desired preventive result. Such rules will need to balance the need to monitor dangerousness against the stigma of inaccurate reports and the possibility that threats to confidentiality discourage people from seeking help.

Fourth, mass murders are symptoms of more pervasive problems. The mentally ill killer did not emerge overnight. Early signs of mental illness may appear in childhood, when we learn to regulate emotions and handle frustrations. Some kids need extra help developing healthy coping skills. The incidence of violence in schools is increasing and is often cited as an obstacle to retaining good faculty. Prevention is the most cost effective long-run investment. Increased funding for Licensed Specialists in School Psychology will be essential to reducing mass violence.

Finally, it is important to remember that very few mentally ill individuals commit violent acts. Nationally, mentally ill persons account for only 4 percent of violent crimes. Dr. Michael Stone examined 200 cases of mass murderers and concluded only 40 were suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or psychopathic personality. "Most mass murderers are working class men who've been jilted, fired or otherwise humiliated - and undergo a crisis of rage," he stated in the New York Times. We must invest in research to improve our ability to predict which individuals are at risk for rage and violence.

In the coming Legislative session, Texans should expect their representatives to give careful attention to mental health: increasing access for care, streamlining involuntary commitment, clarifying reporting rules, supporting prevention in the schools and funding research efforts to make our communities safer, more just and more humane.

Brown is a licensed psychologist and president of the Texas Psychological Association.