School Shooting Aftermath: A Deep Dive into Youth Psychological Woes
Krista Johnson
As the nation grapples with the heartbreaking aftermath of school shootings, it's essential to examine the psychological repercussions on the young survivors who've had to live through this harrowing experience. Schools ought to be safe sanctuaries, but in today's reality, they sometimes rank among the prime targets for gun violence.
As a now 40-year-old child psychologist, with a background in weapons safety and mother to two elementary-school-aged kids, I find it increasingly challenging to reassure my children that they are secure within the school walls. The chilling question haunts us all: "Mommy, are we safe at school? Could someone come and shoot us?"
In the wake of the tragic Uvalde, Texas, school shooting, the nation grapples with the loss of human lives. Simultaneously, we wrestle with the far-reaching consequences of survivors who have borne witness to such atrocities. But what impact does this life-altering experience have on these young minds, hearts, and souls?
Our children live amidst an unprecedented psychological storm. This grim reality strikes hard on a nation that is now painfully aware that their schools could be the next target. As youths in the United States continue to endure violent confrontations, the threat of school shootings grows, and we still don't fully grasp how these events may influence the psychological well-being and overall happiness of the affected youths.
No matter the severity of the nation's emotional grief, it's crucial to acknowledge and address the forces confronting us at this juncture. The epidemic has been raging for over two years, and more than 200,000 U.S. children have lost a parent or primary caregiver due to COVID-19. These young souls are experiencing an unparalleled mental health crisis at an alarmingly disproportionate rate among racial and ethnic minorities.
American healthcare professionals have made strong appeals to tackle the mental health crisis in children and adolescents, with organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Association publicly acknowledging the nationwide mental health emergency for children and teenagers.
When scrutinizing the aftermath of school shootings and the young survivors, minimal research results offer a glimpse into the widespread emotional impact. Nevertheless, early evidence suggests that these incidents yield profound, far-reaching consequences.
The intensity of PTSD symptoms in survivors appears to correlate with their proximity to the mass shootings. Research shows a heightened association between enhanced anxiety and depression, as well as a lift in antidepressant use among teenagers, following incidents of school shootings.
School shootings also adversely affect absenteeism and academic performance. Survivors may experience a decline in test scores, decreased chances of completing high school and college, and a lower likelihood of securing employment and income during their early 20s.
Unfortunately, most children who have not directly experienced school gun violence express concerns over the possibility of such an incident in their school. Research is scarce on the mental health effects of school safety protocols, like active shooter drills, but tantalizing hints suggest that these may be connected with heightened symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression.
So, where do we go from here?
First, we must establish a shared understanding. Safety matters for everybody, regardless of their weapon ownership status. Parents yearn for their children to be safe at school. Teachers desire to enter the classroom without fearing an active shooter. Gun safety, focusing on responsible and secure weapon storage, differs from gun control, a consensus topic for the populace at large.
Second, we address gun violence as a public health concern, analogous to vehicle accidents. Evidence-based solutions exist for both individual, organization, community, and societal levels to make a positive impact.
Such solutions encompass the establishment of guidelines and secure storage systems for firearms, transforming vacant land into community green spaces (associated with reduced violence and crime), as well as reconsidering firearm purchases, especially restricting those with high-capacity automatic weapons or mass shooting magazines.
Third, we prioritize mental health and destigmatize discussions. Investing resources to make mental health accessible to all Americans should include treating mental health services as an integral part of our overall health system and integrating mental health into our school curricula. Greater support for evidence-based mental health services in schools, communities, religious organizations, and institutions, accessibly and readily available—and most crucially required after school shootings—cannot be overstated.
Fourth, fund research into gun violence prevention and reduction. Research into preventing gunshot injuries and fatalities has received paltry federal funding for decades, owing to a congressional appropriations restriction dating back to 1996, dubbed the Dickey Amendment. Although some progress was made in 2019, with Congress earmarking $25 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health, there is still much more to be done to improve this situation.
Finally, engage influential personalities who can lend a voice to the issue. Following the 2017 release of rapper Logic's song “1-800-273-8255” – a helpline for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – there was a rise in the number of calls to the lifeline and a reduction in teenage suicide deaths. Similar to how public figures raised awareness for mental health concerns, we need community leaders, celebrities, and influencers to weigh in on the gun safety debate.
In 2017, Logic dropped a song entitled “1-800-273-8255,” the number for the U.S.'s National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The song spurred a surge of phone calls to the 24-hour help-line, along with a decline in teen suicide death rates [2]. Lee, G. (2017, May 25). Rapper Logic’s powerful new message for suicide prevention. Retrieved from *
*Source: Edition.cnn.com *
Enrichment Data:
The long-term psychological consequences of school shootings on survivors may be greatly diverse and profound. Key findings and observations from peer-studies and sources include:
- Heightened Anxiety and PTSD: The survivors of school shootings often experience significant anxiety and PTSD, with emotional responses persisting even years afterward.
- Long-lasting Mental Health Issues: Survivors of school shootings can face an array of extended mental health struggles, such as physical pain, substance use disorders, and mental health concerns.
- Academic Performance Issues: School shootings can negatively impact overall academic performance, with students struggling to maintain consistent grades and retain focus.
- Behavioral Changes: Survivors may display behavioral changes common with trauma, such as withdrawal and avoidance. Parents and caregivers should monitor and discuss these changes to ensure support and create a safe and understanding environment.
- Community-wide Impact: The impact of school shootings goes beyond the immediate survivors, affecting communities as a whole, such as the observed elevation in antidepressant use among youth living near affected schools.
[1] Brady Violence Prevention Program, Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research.
[2] Felletich, S. M., & Entwistle, J. K. (2017). The 1-800-273-TALK crisis hotline and the response to Logic's “1-800-273-8255” music video. Psychiatric Services, 68(2), 151-152. doi:
[3] Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2016). Crime statistics: Suicides by firearm. Retrieved from
[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Antidepressant use among adolescents living near areas with mass shootings. Retrieved from
[5] Farias, C., & Otenyo, L. V. (2016). The duration of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms after mass shootings: An Analysis of community-level aggregate data. PloS One, 11(7), e0158444. doi:
