‘Do it safely’: Psychologist cautions DepEd on active shooter drills

MANILA, Philippines — A psychologist warned that “active shooter” drills, if conducted without appropriate safeguards, could trigger “real trauma,” especially among students with existing mental health concerns.

“Imagine a student who has already experienced domestic violence or bullying,” psychologist AJ Sunglao told the Inquirer. “Plunging them into a scenario with alarms, screaming, and simulated gunshots is dangerous.”

Last week, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced that public schools would soon conduct “active shooter” drills to prevent a repeat of the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, which left three students dead and 20 others wounded.

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READ: School shooting kills 3 students in Tacloban

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“We are adjusting because we have the first-ever school shooting, which means students were the shooters. So we are now doing the active shooter drill,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

READ: Number of wounded due to Tacloban school shooting now at 20

But Sunglao warned that “the brain often cannot tell the difference between a high-stress simulation and a real threat,” pointing out that “these exercises spike anxiety, mess with learning, and can seriously retraumatize vulnerable kids.”

‘Do it safely’

“[The] DepEd is on the right track by reviewing its guidelines for a safe learning environment,” Sunglao said.

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However, he stressed that preparing for emergencies should not come at the expense of children’s psychological well-being.

Should the agency proceed with the drills, Sunglao urged DepEd to adopt trauma-informed practices, including prohibiting fake firearms, simulated gunshots and theatrical reenactments.

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READ: Schools now need to conduct ‘active shooter’ drills – DepEd

“Do it safely,” he said, stressing that students, parents and teachers should be informed about the drills in advance. They should also be reminded immediately before the exercise that it is only a “practice” drill.

Sunglao pointed out that “keeping kids safe is the job of the adults in the room,” so “training should focus on teachers knowing exactly how to lock doors quickly, close the blinds, and keep a room calm.”

“You do not talk to a kindergartner about active shooters,” he said.

He explained that drills for younger children should be framed as “a game of staying quiet and listening to the teacher, just like how we practice staying away from windows when there is a typhoon.”

READ: Police mobilized for DepEd’s school ‘active shooter drills’

“High schoolers can handle a more honest conversation about safety, but they still need emotional reassurance,” he said.

Psychological well-being

Beyond conducting drills, Sunglao said schools should strengthen behavioral assessment systems to identify students exhibiting severe emotional distress or sudden behavioral changes.

These students should be supported by a multidisciplinary team composed of guidance counselors, guidance associates, teachers and family members, he said.

He emphasized that early mental health intervention is more effective than relying solely on disciplinary measures after problems escalate.

Sunglao also pointed out the need to foster psychological safety in schools so students feel comfortable reporting classmates who may be struggling.

“Students need to know that if they report a struggling classmate, adults will handle it with care and not just hand out punishments or leave the struggling student hanging,” he said.

When an “active shooter” drill is conducted, Sunglao said schools should have guidance counselors on standby for students who become distressed.

“Most importantly, a student should be allowed to opt out of the drill either by their own decision or that of their parent or guardian, especially if they present preexisting concerns regarding their mental health,” he said.

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“We can prepare for the worst without sacrificing our children’s mental health to do it,” Sunglao added. /dm