School threat impacts on children

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Another threat at a Topsail school last night and another student facing charges. Threats, whether credible or not, impact students in ways you might not physically notice.

“Panic. Not knowing what’s going on.”

On Tuesday, many students went home early from Topsail High, Middle and Elementary schools, after a possible threat at the high school.

“Obviously as a parent, everyday that you send them off, you’re concerned about their safety,” parent Lindsey King said.

Weapons made it on campus, but not into the school. Parents say during the lockdown, some of the kids were scared and worried. They wonder how this will affect children in the long run.

“I know I couldn’t, I wouldn’t be able to fathom that growing up, in a situation like that in school. Fortunately, my kid’s pretty level headed and he handled it as well as you could,” parent Brian Woodhouse said.

“I can imagine that it would just be something that would cause a lot of stress, whether that’s now or just down the road, whether it would manifest itself,” King said.

Family Works Psychological Center psychotherapist Mark Stebnicki says events like this can affect multiple aspects of students lives.

“What the person might be experiencing would be intrusive symptoms, distressing memories, there’s physiological reactions that that person might have,” Stebnicki said.

He says one way to combat the psychological issues is through preventative methods.

“Preparing like we do for hurricanes is key, metaphorically, to prepare with the mental health issues and the mental health demands that happen in today’s twenty-first century schools,” Stebnicki said.

The student who made the bomb threat is charged with false report of mass destruction on educational property.