The anxiety that goes with heightened school security measures
The mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. may have given rise to concern about Canadian school safety, but there is inevitable anxiety that goes with reviewing security measures and concern about mental health is paramount among experts.
In Alberta, the education minister has directed all school boards to audit their safety protocols. Demetrios Nicolaides says Alberta’s schools are safe but he is asking school boards to audit their security measures, for example, to make sure all doors lock properly, intercoms are working, and safety equipment is in its proper place.
Meanwhile, the Calgary Board of Education has said all potential threats to school communities are taken seriously, according to a recent board statement . Meanwhile, the board is aware of the anxiety such measures cause.
“An event such as (Tumbler Ridge) may affect individuals in different ways, and it is important to seek support when needed. Students are encouraged to speak with their family members about their feelings and to lean on trusted supports as they process the news about this incident,” the statement reads.
At the annual Calgary City Teachers’ Convention , underway now, the atmosphere has been subdued as teachers cope with the aftermath of Tuesday’s fatal shooting. They are emphasizing meaningful change that will require listening to teachers, expanding mental‑health resources, and increasing funding for schools.
Schools across Canada already have intense safety measures in place. In Toronto, the school board has an established policy dedicated to lockdowns . Each school is required to practice two lockdown drills a year “to ensure students and staff know what to do in case of an emergency.”
The policy states: “Lockdown is used in a serious emergency situation where the threat is inside a school, on or very near to school property. A Lockdown minimizes access and visibility in an effort to shelter students, staff and visitors in secure locations. … During a Lockdown, lights are turned off in the classroom/office, curtains/blinds are closed where possible, cell phone use is restricted and all people inside the building should remain quiet.”
Alan Campbell, president of the Canadian School Boards Association and a school trustee in Manitoba confirms that most ministries of education have emergency training and drills that schools must undertake regularly.
However, in Montreal, where some of the most horrific mass shootings have occurred (for example, the École Polytechnique in 1989, when 14 young women were gunned down) the French school board decided several years ago that annual lockdown drills would remain optional.
The Commissioon scolaire de Montréal vice-chair (at the time), Marie-José Mastromonaco, reasoned that y oung children can confuse imaginary situations with reality, causing them to feel that school is not a safe place. She also noted that some children have may have experienced trauma and immigrants from war zones, may be particularly affected by such drills.
In Pickering, Ontario (east of Toronto), earlier this month, parents expressed concern about how a series of threats at a local elementary school were handled by administrators. Durham Regional Police are looking into four incidents at an elementary school, where security events were hastily declared. One mother told CBC News that her two sons had become “very anxious” and that her youngest and his class were left hiding under their desks for two hours during an incident, while some classes went unsupervised.
Martine Robinson, a superintendent of education for Pickering schools, acknowledged there was “variability” in safety protocols and that “additional work (was) needed to reinforce our shared understanding and practice at the school level.”
Indeed, heightened security causing mixed feelings of relief and concern within a school community has been recognized south of the border where school shootings are far more common.
“As schools continue to adapt to new safety measures, it’s essential to balance the need for security with the mental health and well-being of students,” according to the Cadenza Center for Psychotherapy and the Arts in Hollywood, Florida.
Closer to home, clinical psychologists are trying to help. The fact that the Tumbler Ridge happened at a school hits especially close to home, says Dr. Jo Ann Unger, a clinical psychologist in Winnipeg.
“Whenever we can see ourselves or can relate to something very difficult or tragic that’s happened, it naturally creates a larger response,” Dr. Unger told Battlefordsnow.com , a Saskatchewan news site. “Children seeing that other children have been killed, have died, that can certainly cause us feelings of empathy and sadness and grief.”
She and other Canadian psychologists have provided some tips about how to talk to your kids about the tragedy.
Unger suggests parents talk about their feelings with their partner, adult family members or friends. Then, when parents talk to their kids, they can “do so in a really calm and regulated way.”
Doing a “neutral check-in” with your kids, says Unger, is helpful to avoid making assumptions about what kids are thinking and feeling so you can hear what’s truly going on. That should involve asking kids what they know about the shooting, as it provides an opportunity to correct any misinformation.
Unger says it’s important to acknowledge kids’ fear and provide information about things in place to keep them safe.
Dr. Margaret McKinnon, a mental health and trauma researcher at McMaster University, says parents should note their kids’ behaviour, as changes can signal mental distress. That includes difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, changes in eating habits, isolating themselves or not doing the activities they enjoy.
Parents can say they’ve noticed the change and ask if something is troubling them. Parents may want to seek additional support through school, a primary-care provider or mental health professional.
Routine is important to coping, she says. That includes daily routines starting with mornings, going to school, meals, activities.
Finally, psychologists suggest taking concrete action to combat feelings of helplessness. That could include writing cards and letters to people in Tumbler Ridge, or organize fundraising events for them. Kids could also fundraise for organizations closer to home. Or it could involve doing an art project to honour the community of Tumbler Ridge and posting it on social media.
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