school shootings affect saftey protocol and mental health

By Noa Rejwan ‘28
Over the past few years, school shootings have become a major issue and topic of conversation across the United States. There have been numerous incidents where kids have been murdered, severely injured, and traumatized from these shootings. 

“There have been at least 50 school shootings in the United States in the first three quarters of the year alone. Thirteen were on college campuses, and 37 were on K-12 school grounds” according to CNN Data Editor Alex Matthews. 
On September 4th, 2024, at the Apalachee High School in Georgia, a 14-year-old boy shot at 11 people, killing two students and two teachers and injuring 7 others.
Situations like these have led to an increase in focus on safety measures and mental health support for both students and staff. For example, schools have added metal detectors, increased the number of security guards and limited the number of available entrances. 
“Several studies demonstrate that school shootings have detrimental effects on the mental health and educational outcomes of surviving youth,” according to the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. 
School shootings not only cause physical harm but also affect students mentally and emotionally. Mental health is very important in these situations. Many students worry about what could happen, which can have a strong impact on them. Schools are trying to build strong guidance teams to help students feel safe and express their feelings. 
 “School shootings make it fearful for students to go to school. Especially with antisemitism, there can be threats and make students afraid to go to school,” says Freshman Salomon Messulan.
Besides school shootings, schools also deal with threats that can make students feel scared about attending. 
“Almost all mass school shooters shared threatening or concerning messages or images. More than 75% raised concern from others before the attacks,” according to Sandy Hook Promise, a nonprofit organization advocating for gun violence protection and policy making. 
 Students may hear rumors or see messages about possible shootings or acts of violence, which can create an environment of fear, even if nothing happens. Just hearing about a threat can make everyone anxious and keep everyone more aware.
. “Concerns over school violence, particularly deadly school violence, have prompted demands for greater attention to student safety and school security,” says the Center for American Progress. 
Schools are considering hiring more safety officers, installing security cameras, or using metal detectors at entrances. While these steps can help make students feel safer, they can also create an intimidating atmosphere. This can make schools feel less like places for learning and growth.
In addition to safety measures and mental health support, schools are focusing on building a positive environment. Some schools are trying to promote values like empathy, kindness, and respect. Teaching students to be welcoming and kind to each other is very important. Other schools are attempting to make more of an effort to listen to their students. 
“School-based interventions that play a vital role in keeping schools safe include: creating conditions where children have adults with whom they feel safe asking for help or reporting concerning behavior” stated in the article, How Can We Prevent Gun Violence in American Schools? When students feel heard, they are more likely to feel secure in their environment, which is important since they spend time in school every weekday.