We believe that if we treat school shootings as cancer in our society, we may be able to mirror the medical model of disease prevention. We can prevent them.
Rick
School Violence has always existed at different levels. Throughout history, there has always been violence in society expressed in physical, psychological, verbal, sexual, and socio-economic patterns. Schools are a microcosm of our society, a place where we see ourselves and our future simultaneously. For Americans, this spectrum of school violence transcended to a different magnitude when we first heard the word “Columbine.” In the shadowy morning of a Spring in 1999, a series of acts of violence redefined our very human nature. Over two decades later, we are at a point of a national emergency, and we can’t rely on a unified solution.
As a mental health professional, I am concerned with the increased school violence threats across our communities. As a father, I sometimes feel terrified and hopeless when sending my children to school, making a quick prayer as they go. The reality is the reasons for school shootings are very complex, and we may never reach a complete understanding or agreement. It is a significant challenge to move past the trauma caused, and our society continues to expect a grand solution from the government. This universal solution will not happen. Twenty-three years later, we are still caught in the endless cycle of Trauma-Denial-Anger-Recovery. We must face this challenge by arriving at the following conclusions. First, only our local communities can unite to fix this at the grassroots level. Second, we must develop a way to find these kids before becoming aggressors or school shooters; HELP THEM!
Last week, German spoke about the differences in school threats and the challenge this presents to our school districts and law enforcement/courts. Looking at this subject in more detail, we know not all school aggressors are the same. Their reasons or lack of rationale, the number of casualties they target, their psychosocial backgrounds, the things they shared or posted, and the things they loved or hated are so complex that not even a behavioral analyst can predict with certainty. One thing is clear; there have been about sixty-eight school shooters since Columbine, based on the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS). The number 68 is almost incomprehensible and causes my stomach to turn when I think of all the suffering that number has caused.
We talk about trauma and its effects on our individuals and communities. More often than not, people show resilience and experience post-traumatic growth. We are in the middle of that trauma, and we are in the middle of the conflict. Although our cycle of trauma leads us to feel hopeless, we must decide to grow out of these injuries; we must fight. The same pain those 68 have caused can be used and turned around for something good. If we study and improve our understanding of who these people are, we may be able to recognize those like them who are with us.
In 2019, we spoke with Peter Langman, Ph.D., probably the most nationally recognized expert in School Shootings in the United States. When he taught me that most school shooters have never been bullied, I quickly realized that I did not know enough about this subject, even with my expertise in behavior. For the last four years, we have embarked on a journey to understand who these people are so that we can find them. Statistical Sciences and epidemiology help us recognize patterns of behaviors and disease in the general population. If we utilize a systematic approach, we may be able to identify them early enough to execute a meaningful intervention.
We believe that if we treat school shootings as cancer in our society, we may be able to mirror the medical model of disease prevention. We are developing a community-driven framework that provides education, actively screens at-risk people, and provides a meaningful and caring intervention. It is our responsibility, as a community, to take a stand and to be proactive in this high-stake situation. We must find ways to come together and enthusiastically prevent school violence. In medicine, we have been able to limit the mortality and morbidity caused by many serious diseases. We believe we are more than capable of eradicating school shootings if we use the same systematic approach. If the community as a whole comes together and we bridge any gaps between the school districts, law enforcement/courts, and mental health, we can be successful. We can literally prevent this disease from spreading to a terminal condition. We can build hope; we can let kids feel safe!
1 thought on “When School Violence is a Cancer”