Urgent Call for Child Mental Health Support Post-Mass Shootings

(CNN) -- Rebekah Schuler was walking to her 10th grade history class with her best friend, each with a shared headphone in her ear, blasting their favorite song when the unimaginable happened. Gunshots and bloodcurdling screams filled Oxford High School's corridors, sending them running for their lives. 
 
Three years have passed since that horrific day in suburban Detroit where four of Schuler’s classmates tragically lost their lives. However, time has done little to dull the pain or quiet the haunting memories that often replay in vivid detail. 
 
Schuler is not alone; she is one among an estimated 3 million children and teens exposed to shootings every year in America. More than 1,300 school shootings have occurred within the past decade—aa startling statistic provided by Everytown for Gun Safety—leaving countless students grappling with trauma instead of focusing on education. 
 
The most recent shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, claimed two young lives—both only aged fourteen—alongside two teachers while injuring nine others. As of September 6th this year, there have been at least forty-six school shootings across America. 
 
Mental health experts studying these traumatic events stress an urgent need for survivors like Schuler to receive therapy and other resources designed to manage mental health issues stemming from such events. 
 
"We are growing a whole population of kids who will eventually be adults dealing with anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder," warned Dr. Gail Saltz from New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College during an interview with CNN. 
 
Ignoring symptoms or delaying treatment may lead survivors into avoidance behaviors that disrupt essential growth into adulthood, according to Saltz: "We need resources right away so they can access long-term treatment." 
 
Symptoms of distress may begin immediately after a shooting event, causing some survivors severe anxiety, leading them towards avoiding anything associated with it, including attending school, where it transpired, disrupting their education further. 
 
"Signs of distress can manifest differently depending on their age," Saltz explains. "Some may not appear distressed or unhappy at all but will show serious symptoms of regression in behavior and developmental milestones." 
 
Parents can play a crucial role in aiding their children’s trauma response by allowing them to express feelings through various outlets like journaling or drawing. However, if weeks after the shooting, severe anxiety persists, disrupting regular habits, hobbies, and routines, then professional help should be sought immediately. 
 
The long-term effects of these traumatic events significantly impact survivors’ mental health, which interferes with normal development, school functioning, and relationships. 
 
"We found that in the aftermath of a fatal shooting we see heightened rates of antidepressant prescriptions amongst youth under age 20 persisting for at least five years after the event," revealed Maya Rossin-Slater from Stanford University School of Medicine, who authored a policy brief analyzing school shootings' detrimental impact on American youth's mental health. 
 
Schuler herself was diagnosed with PTSD one month post-shooting: "I have coping skills, yet it's still there, affecting my day-to-day life." She adds, describing her struggle adjusting to new surroundings as she embarks upon her college journey at Rochester Christian University this fall. 
 
Community support alongside early detection plays an important part in recovery, according to both Saltz and Rossin-Slater. Easy access to affordable mental healthcare is essential so families can quickly find professionals without struggling financially, says Rossin-Slater. 
 
Many survivors, including Schuler, now volunteer with Everytown for Gun Safety, advocating against gun violence while offering solidarity towards other survivors. “Your trauma doesn’t define you. You won’t have to do it alone,” Schuler reassures fellow survivors, encouraging them to seek help when needed.