Another incident that deeply wounds all of us, fills us with horror, and causes anxiety has occurred. A student killed their teacher in the classroom. Very recently, I had made a post with the same title. Unfortunately, nothing has changed since that day.
There are many reasons for the increase in violence incidents. Among these, there are also causes specific to our own country. However, the following is a fact: In a country, teachers — who are members of a professional group that should perhaps rank first among the respected and valued professions — can no longer perform their profession in the school environment by thinking about how they can be more beneficial to children, but instead carry the anxiety of “will I survive?”
Fundamental Causes Of The Increase In Violence
Individual Risk Factors
Problems with impulse control
Traumatic experiences, history of abuse
Substance use
Social isolation and peer rejection
Presence of untreated psychiatric illnesses
Familial Factors
Insufficient parental supervision
Domestic violence and conflict
Neglect and abuse
Inconsistent discipline
Mental health problems in parents
Low socioeconomic level
Easy access to firearms and other violent instruments
School And Societal Factors
Being subjected to or witnessing bullying at school
Not feeling a sense of belonging to school, absenteeism, low academic achievement
Normalization of violence through media, games, or social media
Weakness of social support systems
Unsafe school climate, inadequacy of the physical environment
What Families Can Do Recognize Early Warning Signs:
Sudden behavioral changes, social withdrawal
Violent conversations, messages, or drawings
Sudden, intense, newly emerging anger outbursts
Decline in academic performance
Changes in sleep and appetite
Strengthen Protective Factors
Allow the child to express their emotions
Spend quality time with the child and provide open communication
Set consistent boundaries
Monitor screen time and the content watched
Do not hesitate to seek professional help
What Can Be Done In Schools
A safe and inclusive school environment should be created
Students’ sense of belonging should be strengthened
Teacher-student relationships should be supported
Conflict resolution and anger management trainings
Anti-bullying education
The number of school psychological counselors should be increased
What Can Be Done For Society
Facilitating access to child and adolescent mental health services
Widespread implementation of school-based mental health services
Increasing gun safety and control of access
Media literacy education
Increasing parent education programs