Psychiatrist groups urge DepEd to delay live-shooter safety drills

The Philippine Psychiatric Association and the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have formally requested that the Department of Education defer its planned live-shooter safety exercises in schools across the country. The groups expressed alarm over what they describe as "hyper-realistic scenarios of violence" that students would be exposed to during the drills.

The DepEd had issued a memorandum directing all schools to conduct a "Nationwide Simultaneous School Safety" exercise as part of enhanced security measures. However, the psychiatric organizations argue that such realistic simulations of armed attacks could have adverse psychological effects on young learners.

The mental health professionals have not outright opposed school safety preparedness, but have suggested that the department explore alternative approaches that achieve security objectives without subjecting students to potentially traumatic scenarios. The groups emphasized the need to balance physical safety concerns with students' emotional and psychological well-being.

This marks a significant intervention by the country's leading mental health organizations in the ongoing debate over school safety protocols. The DepEd has not yet publicly responded to the request for deferral.