Littleton, CO has another school shooting which could cause PTSD in children

School shootings across the United States in recent years have been shocking and can cause long-lasting effects in children. Today’s shooting in Littleton, CO (at the Deer Creek School) is no exception.

According to a report , a man entered on to school property and after speaking with several students as they were leaving at the end of the day, opened fire and injured two. Both students are expected to recover, physically.

A nearby math teacher, Dr. Benke, tacked the gun man after the students were shot, and others began piling on top until police arrived to take the man into custody. Dr. Benke undoubtedly saved more lives.
The motive for the shooting is not yet known as the story is still developing.

As stated in the handbook from the International Center to Heal Our Children,

“What happens if we do not attend to our children’s mental health needs with the same speed and urgency that we do when providing shelter, food and emergency care after a disaster? We know that when we do not attend to the emotional aspects of trauma and violence, these issues may resurface later, often with unanticipated results. Children exposed to persistent and extreme violence may develop changes in their thoughts, feelings and behaviors.”

Even though this is one single event today, it is not the first time for Colorado or this town. It is not the first time in our nation. And for children who develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because of this event, it can happen again and again in their minds and dreams.

Children, who are developmentally delayed, in any way, will also lack proper coping skills for events like this. It is important that they get individual counseling to help deal with the tragedy.

Dr. Mark I. Levy, Assistant Clinical Professor Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of
California, San Francisco, was contacted via telephone for insights into what parents, children and school faculty may be facing in the days to come.

Dr. Levy said children who witnessed the attack or were victims of the attack may be prone to developing PTSD depending on their own individual situation prior to attack. There are two considerations that should be evaluated for possible PTSD: proximity and severity and vulnerability versus resiliency. If a child already has special needs, it is possible that the child, regardless of proximity to the event, may be especially vulnerable because of poor cognitive skills and other issues.

Even teachers may be prone to what is called Survivor’s Guilt. This is the feeling that there is something more that he or she could have done to avoid the tragedy. That these individuals feel certain there is something they should have done could have done to prevent the attack even though it is not true. Teachers will also need to have counseling.

Going forward, Dr. Levy suggested that the school should follow protocol along these lines:
School Assembly:

• Address the students telling them exactly what has really happened because rumors will be going around.
• Have the students break into small groups to share feelings and talk about the event. This is both therapeutic and cathartic for individuals to share in a group surrounding.
• Indentify students and other individuals who may need additional counseling: do not wait until they ask for help.

Because this has happened before in this town, it will be important to identify any family overlap that may exist. For example, a witness at Deer Creek Middle School may have a cousin or older sibling who was at Columbine when that attack happened. These individuals will be especially prone to possible severe psychological impact. The school should be proactive in providing additional trained counseling services and therapists.

Signs that a child may be experiencing PTSD:

•  Sleeping difficulty, reoccurring nightmares
•  Difficulty concentrating, losing focus
•  Feeling insecure and unsecure
•  Panic attacks

School officials and parents need to be aware that students have a presumed sense of safety at school and this type of event shatters that presumption.

And while parents of victims may want to sue the school or school personnel in order to recoup cost of medical care for these children, there is a danger in this. Dr. Levy stated that a prolonged civil suit, which could take years, can cause added stress for the adults involved.

The APA offers a Disaster Relief Network which is an association of professionals who can come to a community and help enact therapeutic activities and provide insight to school professionals and parents looking for a way to help use coping skills during this time.

For more information on the psychological impact this event may have on children, please read this PDF file by the International Center to Heal Our Children.