On May 25, a student opened fire while in his science class at Noblesville West Middle School, leaving another student and a teacher injured.
“My daughter and son attended the high school where the children were evacuated to,” Noblesville resident Katrina Tillman said. “At first, they were pretty calm, but just very inquisitive. The calm went from scared to panic when the school moved to code red. My daughter called me and was praying and scared.”
The district continues to provide support for those in need, Tillman added.
“School is out, but they are still having outsourced counseling and other resources available at the school.” Tillman said. “They are being very responsive.”
As the school shooting epidemic continues to spread around the country — and now close to home — parents and adults in surrounding communities must consider the psychological impact on youth. Anyone affected by the trauma of a school shooting may have residual emotions and may begin to question their decisions, mental health professionals say.
Youth, who once knew the shooter, may begin to struggle with the anxiety of who is a friend, and who could potentially be the next shooter. Parents will also begin to question their parental efficacy.
Schools have become an unsafe place for our children, psychologist Jacqualyn Green said.
“With a loss of safety there is a loss of trust,” Green said. “Trust can translate to apathy, which is why some children may act out or struggle with their grades after school shootings.”
School shootings also can create post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a disorder that develops after dangerous or shocking events and can cause people to become alert and over-zealous with their decisions because something went wrong, and they feel as though they could have changed it.
PTSD isn’t just experienced in school shootings, Green said. Many African-American children experience trauma daily. Children who are exposed to or even victims of violence in their home or neighborhood also need mental health care.
While there is a fear of being desensitized to violence and trauma from events such as school shootings, many remain oblivious because they do not believe that it will happen near them, psychologist and professor Dr. Guykesha Gardner said.
“And then it happens, and now what?” she said. “How aggressive have we been in terms of treating behavioral and mental health and creating places of refuge for youth?
Just as math and English are required courses in school, counseling should be a part of the school life, Gardner added.
“There are many outsourced therapists and counseling centers that are hired to help children with issues, but it needs to be a part of the fabric of education.” Gardner said. “Using school psychologist that will actually have a relationship with these children is necessary.”
Contact staff writer Loren Dent at 317-762-7853.
PTSD
