The drills, the training, the security exercises -- schools across the state are teaching students how to respond if faced with a dangerous threat.
An Osceola County School Board member is weighing in on the mental health effects of students during those drills and exercises, saying school shooting drills and lockdowns are affecting the mental health of students.
School Board member Kelvin Soto said school officials “don’t want to react to things after they happen,” but he’s worried those false alarms are hurting students mentally.
“There are negative effects from having false positives,” Soto said. “I just don’t know what the balance is when we consider that the harm is a child that might be seriously injured or killed.”
On Thursday, Denn John Middle School in Kissimmee was placed on lockdown. Investigators said there was no gun. That lockdown caused panic and fear for students, teachers and families.
Read: Lockdown lifted at Kissimmee school after reports of possible gun on campus, police say
“Maybe we’ve got to ease up on these things a little or ask the question: What is this doing?” Soto said.
It’s a question Soto is researching as he works to lay out a plan to address these issues with the School Board.
“I understand the harm we are trying to prevent, but we just need to be very very careful that we are not introducing a different type of harm in trying to prevent it,” Soto said.
Christy Jordan, a mental health counselor in Kissimmee, said she’s seen close to 100 students come to her for help after false alarms and practice drills.
“Everyone I’ve seen has been from a different school," Jordan said. “They are coming because they need to process that trauma.”
Read: Student made up shooting threat that prompted lockdown at DeLand High, police say
Jordan said students can have constant nightmares and experience anxiety, PTSD and depression, especially with active-shooter training.
“They are made to think it’s real, when it’s not,” Jordan said.