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GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) – Wednesday’s rash of hoax calls comes with a price. Anderson County, for example, says the most expensive things in these situations are resources like deployed choppers.
But mental health counselors say there are other costs to society, while the schools are silent on the psychological harm of some, perhaps not.
Allen Hernandez, a freshman at Greenville High School, said he was in the thick of an abruptly cut English class.
“Rumours started spreading that someone had a gun,” Hernandez said.
And then it says the room is occupied. According to Greenville Police, they responded aggressively with EMS and fire as part of protocol to clear the school building. Meanwhile, Allen said he had other thoughts and remembered the Tanglewood Middle School shooting in March.
“You never know what other people are going through. Things can go to their heads,” he said.
Hernandez calls this line of lies an irresponsible gut punch.
“It’s not a joke,” he said.
Tiffany Parker, LMSW, founder and CEO of Universal Therapeutic Services, provides mental health counseling and support to schools and school-age children. Parker said hoax calls, like violence, have mental and emotional costs.
“I hope parents have a serious conversation with their kids,” Parker said. “It creates hysteria. It creates this threat. And when it continues again and again – this is stress. And that normal stress level can lead to diagnoses that include things like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Parker with the National Association of School Psychologists says parents need to make time to talk, monitor their child’s emotional state and make conversations appropriate.
“When we think about our high school students, we are preparing them to be adults. responsible adults who can be held accountable for their actions and feelings,” Parker said. You can openly share with the guidance counselor, “I need to talk to someone.” So encourage them to use the resource not only in their school but also in their home and community.
Parker said it’s also important to maintain normal routines. She says, “Don’t feed the beast for fear, but for safety.” This is no time to act out of fear. For more information, contact Holistic Therapeutic Services, here: https://universaltherapeuticservices.com/contact-us/
For more tips from the National Association of School Psychologists, visit: https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/school-violence-resources/ Talking-to-children-about-violence-tips-for- parents and teachers
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