Effects of Mass shootings to the Victims

Executive summary

The United States has experienced a considerable number of mass shootings, which has been a significant threat to its security. Most of the incidents are evidenced in high schools where the students experience a series of disturbing emotions, including sorrow, shock, numbness, anger, fear, grief, and disillusionment. Additionally, the victims may experience other effects such as difficulty in concentrating, eating, remembering, and of course, troubled sleeping. The paper will critically analyze the instances of mass shootings to access its effects on health living of survivors as well as the witnesses. The study will be vital in pitting in place recommendations to address the menace. It worth noting that gun violence issue demands immediate action because the existing research has confirmed that 223, 000 students in America from 229 school across all the states have experienced gun violence since Columbine mass shooting. As a result, the government, educators, and psychologists should join hands to ensure that the students get evidenced-based treatment.

Introduction

A mass shooting is an incident where an active shooter opens fire in a crowded place, thereby killing a substantial number of persons. Gun violence instances have been evidenced in the U.S, especially to high school and college students. Precisely, the underlying research has revealed that a total of 1102 Americans have died since 1966 due to mass shootings. Gun violence triggers various grievous emotions, including sorrow, shock, numbness, anger, fear, grief, and disillusionment.  9/11 and Parkland School shooting have been the most arguably outspoken tragedies whose anniversaries have led to more suicide-related deaths. Mass shootings have been a significant contributor to anxiety, fear, traumatic effects, suicides, and PTSD, and is the high time for the government, educators, and psychologist to join hands to ensure that the students get evidenced-based treatment.

Findings

Distress after a mass shooting

Mass shootings have been a great contributor to anguish to the victims. Those who have never experienced the damaging impacts of mass shootings may be wondering how it comes to happens. Notably, it through engaging the victims as well as the survivors personally that one can get its clear picture. American Physiological Association (2019) suggests that it is always apparent for the victims to have a series of disturbing emotions, including sorrow, shock, numbness, anger, fear, grief, and disillusionment. Additionally, the victims may experience other effects such as difficulty in concentrating, eating, remembering, and of course, troubled sleeping.

The situation can be easily contained if the victims have a healthy environment to offer appropriate support. American Physiological Association (2019) expounds that the victims find it challenging when they do not have family members or friends who can provide emotional, physiological, and physical support. As a consequence, the situation worsens in addition to experiencing adverse psychological impacts, which may sometimes be challenging to manage. The article further opines that the victims tend to see the world as a dangerous place for human beings, as compared to the previous experience. It worth noting that the victims are demanded to follow the recommended measures consistently for a quick recovery.

It is recommended that victims should continuously seek advice from various parties, including counseling experts, friends, and family members. However, some of those affected find it hard to air their grievances due to depression. The American Physiological Association (2019) advises the victims of a mass shooting to seek support from people who care about them. At times, a person may experience difficulties while managing intense reactions. The situation may worsen if the person does not get the necessary advice from experts such as a psychologist. The victims should get it clear that mass shooting impacts can be managed by making consultation from experts to acquire strategies for managing the aftermath impacts.

American Physiological Association (2019) suggests that victims may not recover if they do not adhere to the following tips. The article’s authors advise them to talk about their experience consistently. Again, the affected persons should work towards attaining a balance by concentrating on constructive activities or people’s opinions. Besides, they must deactivate their thoughts by focusing on other activities in addition to honoring their feeling by investing their ideas on productive ideas (Stack, 2015). The author advises the public to practice the brother’s keeper initiative by helping others in doing constructive activities.

Public views towards mass shooting

The New York Times analyzed the public’s views towards mass shootings. The interviewed persons were supposed to give their opinions relating to their expectations towards the occurrence of a mass shooting in their lives (Stack, 2015). The generated views were a clear depiction that mass shootings are a significant threat to American Citizens. Precisely, more than 5,000 respondents confirmed that they always expect mass shootings to happen at any time at any place.  They proved to have been experiencing much fear and anxiety while doing their daily chores, including picking up kids from school, shopping from malls as well as attending religious services.

Other respondents came to reveal that they have never imagined being victims of mass shootings because it is arguably among the significant contributor for affliction. Stack (2015) opines that some of the views were overwhelming since they shared opinions regarding escape routes and emergency plans. Since gun ownership has been a common aspect among the citizens, some suggested that they would fire back once they notice mass shooter in action (Stack, 2015). Based on the provided response, it is evident that citizens do not feel safe anymore while walking around the streets. Besides, their views bring forth an illustration that the U.S is now a scarier place compared to the past.

Stack (2015) outlines examples of views provided by citizens. For instance, a 58-year-old teacher at Connecticut always imagines how he could run around looking for shelter with her young student. The teacher revealed that he thinks of shooting based on the protection she can offer to the kids. Among those who were interviewed was a 15-year student in Oregon who enlightened that they always think of how they can escape following a mass shooting in their school. Stack (2015) explained another case for a 57-year-old professor at Middlesex Community College, who thinks that some students might sneak guns inside the school compound.

Mass shooting instances are mostly experienced by racially discriminated individuals, especially Africans Americans. Most of the non-Americans who were intervened confirmed that they are at higher risk of experiencing mass shootings due to racial discrimination (Stack, 2015). For instance, a 30-year-old Adrienne from Manhattan suggested that she did not trust law enforcement systems since she had experienced racism regularly. Adrienne is a victim of gun violence since she lost four close persons, one who was a relative. Stack (2015) provides a clear view that the Americana are scared, heartbroken, and they do not feel safe anymore.

Furthermore, the interviews suggested that instances of the mass shooting have changed the modes of operation in countries. For example, Taylor, a 25-year-old nurse in Indiana, attested that she thinks of a mass shooting while in the night shift. She always imagines where she could hide in case active shooters invade the hospital. Dempsey, a 62-year-old employee at Missouri hospital, enlightened that he had been far much aware of the mass shootings. Additionally, he learned the importance of possessing a gun while on duty after witnessing the Columbine High School mass shooting that claimed the lives of 12 students.

The continuous instances of mass shootings bring into the limelight that no one is safe in America. The above opinion was supported by Jessy, a 30-year student from Virginia Tech in Francisco, after having an encounter with a gunman who killed 32 of his classmates in 2007.  He suggests that new instances of mass shootings renew his nine-year-old trauma. Besides, those Muslim Americans originating from middle-east disclosed that they always experience a daily feeling that someone might shoot them. For instance, a 41-year-old Shahbaz Khan from Connecticut revealed that he finds it challenging when accessing public places because of the strict scrutiny subjected to him.

  The norm of solidarity

The rapidly increasing instances of mass shootings have induced a considerable number of scholars to come up with an intense academic discussion. Nurmi, Rasanen & Oksanen (2011) suggest that scholars should be more cautious in criticizing incidents of mass shootings for providing the citizens with comprehensive information. For instance, the two mass shootings that were evidenced in Finland did not get attention due to a lack of critiques. Notably, it is through criticism of gun violence instances that the community will react positively towards the menace (Nurmi, Rasanen & Oksanen, 2011). Importantly, the authors give the significance of community solidarity after a gun violence instance.

After conducting research on community solidarity, Nurmi, Rasanen & Oksanen (2011) found that the cities that experience mass shootings have well-grounded togetherness compared to the past. Apart from elevated sympathy, the affected communities undergo a series of detrimental phenomena, including social stigmatization, collective guilt, in addition to strengthened group division among the youths and adults. The effects instigate community members to put in place cultural trauma processes, which would contribute hugely in providing the victims with a shoulder to lean on. Equally, the society members suffer from cultural trauma, which requires social solidarity to aid the victims in recovering.

The psychological aftermath of surviving school shootings

Keller (2019) brings into attention the mental torture that students from Parklands have been experiencing after February 14^th, 2018, gun violence, which claimed 17 lives. The incident has developed long traumatic impacts on the students, to an extreme of causing more suicide-related deaths. The lives of students from Parklands School in Florida have been adversely impacted due to deteriorated economic achievement, academic performance, and mental health. Keller (2019) analyzed the stories of two students who survived the Parkland’s shootings; however, they ended up being victims of suicide. Sydney Aiello was one of the students who terminated her life after witnessing a friend being shot during gun violence. The NBC news revealed that Aiello shot herself in the head after her graduation. Her family members told the Miami investigators that the diseased had been battling with attending classes due to fear that she might be killed like her friend. Barely a month after the shooting, Coral Springs Police Department announced the second suicide case of a student whose name remains unrevealed.

In the recent past, the number of gun violence victims has been increasing rapidly. The report compiled by Keller (2019) confirms that 223 000 students in America from 229 schools across all the states have experienced gun violence since Columbine mass shooting. The provided number is somewhat on the higher side because it impacts the academic performance of those who are about to graduate, thereby hampering the country’s economic performance. Additionally, gun violence shootings do not only lead to killings, but also traumatic effects on the survivors, witnesses as well as family members. Besides, the traumatic impacts leave live long scars Across the American Civil Society.

The mass shooting’s impacts on the victims tend to persist if not managed effectively. Equally, the survivors remain hunted by anxiety, flashbacks, and guilty, and may at some time lead to suicide (Keller, 2019). The above illustration can be linked to the suicide case of Greg Barnes, a basketball player from Columbine who took his life after the first anniversary of the massacre. It hurts to realize that the mass shooting experience was still fresh in his head after one year. Keller (2019) attests that surviving school shootings can adversely impact the lives of students throughout their lives.  Keller (2019) reviewed Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis and found that such students performed poorly compared to those who did not have mass shooting experience.

The survivor’s health affairs

The existing health research has made it clear that those who survive mass shootings struggle a lot to heal. Lancu et al. (2019) affirmed that two students committed suicide after the first anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting. Notably, the deaths that occur as a result of continued depression extend the impacts of grief, trauma, and suffering beyond the initial menace. Lancu et al. (2019) further suggest that it would be a smart move if people avoid anniversaries for mass shootings because they induce the memories of survivors, thereby leading to more deaths. The continuous instances of suicide after anniversaries is a clear depiction that healthcare experts have not put in place enough support systems for mental treatment.

During the last year, gun violence has been evidenced in more than 30 schools, including Marjory Stoneman Douglas in the United States. Lancu et al. (2019) reveal that mass shooting causalities bring adverse impacts to society, which remain to haunt generations. For instance, the Bath Michigan incident, which took place in 1927, is still a significant threat to the survivors and their grandchild. According to Lancu et al. (2019), the victims of mass shootings resume their usual chores, including attending classes, dating, and playing. Those students may seem ordinary, but deep inside, they are battling with survivors guilty, grief, depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Schools have different approaches for managing the aftermath of shooting because there is no specific method for resolving such issues. It worth noting that Santa Fe High school instance made the facility boots its security systems, including the use of metal detectors, bullets proof glass in addition to police officers on highways (Lancu et al. 2019). On its part, Marjorie Stoneman High school has been inviting physiological experts to interact with the victim because their academic performance could be noticed deteriorating from time to time (Lancu et al. 2019). The above description brings forth an illustration that schools find it challenging while rebuilding the emotions of the victims, thereby hampering the conducive learning environment.

Apart from physiological support, the parents as well the school are supposed to seek evidence-based treatment for the survivors. Notably, the effective utilization of patient-centered care aids the survivors to recover shiftily (Lancu et al. 2019). Besides, the approach contributes hugely to upholding the mental capability and attaining a wide range of impact on the quality of social life, cognitive and emotional functioning (Lancu et al. 2019). For instance, the 9/11 attack survivors seem not to have sought evidence-based treatment because the recently conducted studies reveal that 66% of the victims had moderate symptoms of PTSD.

Long term outcomes for survivors 

The long-term results of a mass shooting can be minimized with the aid of consistency access to mental health support as well as community connections. Novotney (2018) revealed that a total of 1102 Americans have died since 1966 due to mass shootings. He further confirmed that the adverse impacts have hampered the survivors not only physically, but also psychologically. Based on the historical records of gun violence, it is evident that the shooters do not have a specific target (Novotney, 2018). Precisely, the effects cut across all social, economic background, race, and religion. Notably, shootings happen devoid of warning, an aspect that has created persistent anxiety and fear of the entire world.

A definite mass shooting outcome demands the victims to pass through the stages of shock and healing. Novotney (2018) reviewed a research bulletin compiled by SAMHSA and found that the survivors have to go through three steps of healing to recover, which includes the acute, intermediate, and long-term phases. The acute phase entails denial, disbelief, and shock and can be minimized by health experts through providing resources and information. On its part, the intermediate stage is characterized by anger, problems with paying attention, disturbed sleep, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, the long term phase comes barely after three months, which entails issues with adjustment and replacement.

Not all victims of the mass shooting will need long term help. Novotney (2018) suggests that their juxtaposition determines the prediction of faring with long term effects for survivors with the incidence. Novotney (2018) examined a Meta-analysis survey on the instances PTSD on the 8,000 participants and discovered that the impacts were more severe to those who were directly involved, including the witnesses and survivors. Others included those who lost their friends as well as those who thought their lives were in danger. Novotney (2018) discovered that those who were involved directly portrayed severe PTSD effects compared to those who may be hiding at a far distance.

Physiologist has joined hands together with educators to improve the mental health of the students who have experienced a mass shooting. Their combined efforts are geared towards building much support for the victims to recover swiftly. Robin Gurwitch a Ph.D. holder and a child psychologist at Duke University school of medicine, suggests that teachers are the immediate support for students following a mass shooting. Robin further confirmed that he had already volunteered to help the affected students in all ways he could manage. Novotney (2018) opined that it was the right of the educators to help the victims in adjusting to their healthy lives, hence avoiding past traumatic thoughts.

Conclusion

All in all, the above discussion has put it clear that mass shootings have been a great contributor to anguish. The existing research has revealed that those affected experiences a series of grievous emotions, including sorrow, shock, numbness, anger, fear, grief and disillusionment. Additionally, the victims may experience other effects such as difficulty in concentrating, eating, remembering, and of course, troubled sleeping. The citizens who were interviewed randomly confirmed that they always imagine that an active shooter may erupt at any time or any place. The government, educators, and psychologists have joined hands to ensure that the students get evidenced-based treatment.

Recommendation

It is recommended that victims should continuously seek advice from various parties, including counseling experts, friends, and family members. Again, the affected persons should work towards attaining a balance by concentrating on constrictive events or people’s opinions. The public should practice the brother’s keeper initiative by helping others do constructive activities. The government, educators, and psychologists should put extra effort into ensuring that the students get evidenced-based treatment. It will be necessary for the cities to avoid mass shootings anniversaries because they lead to more suicide-related deaths. Importantly, family members should create a positive environment for their affected

References

Lancu, A., Jaycox, L., Acosta, G., D., Straub, F., G., Iovan, S., Nelson, C. & Abir, M. (2019).

After school shootings, children and communities struggle to heal. Retrieved from https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20190717.855810/full/

American Physiological Association (2019). Managing your distress in the aftermath of a mass

shooting. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/mass-shooting

Keller, J. (2019). The psychological aftermath of surviving school shootings. Retrieved from

https://psmag.com/education/the-psychological-aftermath-of-surviving-school-shootings

Nurmi, J., Rasanen, P. & Oksanen, A. (2011). The norm of solidarity: Experiencing negative

aspects of community life after a school shooting tragedy. Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1468017310386426

Novotney, A. (2018). Long term outcomes for survivors of mass shooting. Retrieved from

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2018/09/survivors

Stack, L. (2015). I think about it daily’: Life in a time of mass shootings. Retrieved from

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/12/03/us/mass-shootings-fear-voices.html