Kansas City,
03
October
2022
|
10:03 AM
America/Chicago

KSHB 41: Students reveal psychological stress, toll on mental health from school shootings

kshb school shootings

By Caitlin Knute

This is the second part of a two-part series exploring student perspectives into a world of school shootings and active shooter drills.

Part two includes a conversation with Christina Low Kapalu, a child psychologist at Children's Mercy Kansas City.

Caitlin: What memories do you have of school shootings and drills?

Issac, middle school student: "When I was in like second grade, or younger, you didn't really understand; They hid it from you. They didn't tell you exactly what was happening. But, once you go into like older grades, you start to understand that a bad person, potentially with a weapon could come into your classroom and start like hurting people."

Nick, college student: "We started changing our mindset to it's not a matter of if, it could be a matter of when. I think having that change in mindset has helped in some ways. Because, when you're expecting it to happen and it doesn't, then it's a win-win. And if you're expecting it to happen, and it does, then at least you're more prepared than being completely blindsided."

Caitlin: What's your reaction to what they are saying?

Kapalu: "It’s pretty consistent with what I’m hearing from patients, that these drills really bring about the reality of gun violence in schools for kids, and they occur pretty frequently in schools. And every time they occur, it brings that reality to the forefront of their thinking. It’s disheartening to hear students say things like, 'It’s not if, but when.'"

 

See the full story via KSHB 41

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