Once just a phenomenon, mass shootings have sadly become common worldwide. Among the headlines were incidents at a youth camp on the island of Utoya in Norway in 2011; two consecutive terrorist attacks on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019 and the teenager who opened fire at his high school in southeastern France in 2017.
Because active shooter situations can happen anywhere, are unpredictable, evolve quickly and are often over (within 10 to 15 minutes) before law enforcement arrives, mental and physical preparation is vital.
Impact on society
Mass shootings and other catastrophic events cause trauma that impacts not only survivors but also members of the community at large who hear news reports of these incidents. Heightening stress and dulling compassion erode the sense of wellbeing and negatively affects emotional health.
In a task force report published by The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, experts noted, "Trauma exposure is also associated with increased risk for chronic physical health conditions and a wide range of mental disorders, including anxiety disorders, major depression and substance abuse."
Peter A. Levine, PhD, Director of Somatic Experiencing® International, and an expert with more than 25 years of studying trauma states, "Although humans rarely die from trauma, if we do not resolve it, our lives can be severely diminished by its effects. Some people have even described this situation as a 'living death.'"
