Blondie,
Nice post. I'm not aware of any data suggesting Gen Y males have higher rates of mental illness than the males from previous generations. The divorce rate has steadily decreased since about 1980, and this would suggest that Gen Y males have been raised in a more stable home environment than Gen X and Gen Y males. What has changed is what I mentioned a few posts before. Klebold and Harris (Columbine) were social misfits. Cho from Va. Tech was as well. Lots of others of these idiots from this generation who do these kinds of things also don't seem to be mentally ill - just angry and screwed up. Lanza, this kid and the Colorado idiot seem to be a combination of mental illness and generational issues. Most if not all of them feel powerless; killing others - going out in a blaze of glory - is the ultimate power trip. They 'feel' powerless. Most if not all of them were from upper middle to solidly middle class families with all of the benefits that entails. They fail a test, can't get laid or some other social misfitism and they want to kill. That is what troubles me.
The mentally ill males from previously generations, when they were in this same age frame, weren't in the news so often killing people in mass numbers. As you mentioned, the mentally ill are more likely to harm themselves. That's why a lot of sociologists and psychiatrists are examining Gen Y males to see if there are generational factors contributing to this. Many think there are. So do I.