THE STORY FROM OAKLAND. WELL, THE DOORS ARE REMAINING CLOSED HERE AT OAKLAND CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN THIS FOLLOWING THAT ACTIVE SHOOTER ALERT THAT PUT THE SCHOOL AND SEVERAL OTHERS ACROSS OUR STATE INTO LOCKDOWN. TODAY THEY MAY BE FEELING LIKE THEY WENT THROUGH A REAL EXPERIENCE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A HOAX, BECAUSE IN THE MOMENT, OUR CITY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. THAT’S THE ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK CENTER FOR ADULT ANXIETY AND OCD DIRECTOR DR. ALISHA KAPLAN REACTED TO THE FACT THAT SEVERAL 911 CENTERS ACROSS OUR AREA AND STATE RECEIVED CALLS THAT ACTIVE SHOOTERS WERE INSIDE SCHOOL BUILDINGS YESTERDAY MORNING SAFELY SAYING THE CALLS WERE COMPUTER GENERATED, SWATTING CALLS, SWATTING IS SIMILAR TO PRANK CALLING, BUT IN THESE CASES, IT’S TYPICALLY TO GET FIRST RESPONDERS TO GO TO ANOTHER ADDRESS WHILE PORTRAYING A VICTIM THROUGH FALSE REPORTING. THE SITUATION SENT STUDENTS AND STAFF INTO HIDING UNTIL STATE POLICE DEEMED IT ALL TO BE A HOAX. AND PARENTS WERE ABLE TO FINALLY REUNITE WITH THEIR KIDS. DR. CAPLAN SAYS MENTAL HEALTH CAN BE IMPACTED IN THESE SITUATIONS DUE TO THE SENSE OF THREAT AND UNEASINESS THEY MAY BRING. SHE SAYS SHOWING SUPPORT AND HAVING IT IS CRUCIAL DURING A TIME LIKE THIS. SOME OF US ARE GOING TO RESPOND MORE WITH ANXIETY AND FEAR AND TROUBLE MAKING DECISIONS THAN THE NEXT PERSON. SO I THINK AS A GROUP TOGETHER WE CAN BOUNCE OFF IDEAS WITH EACH OTHER AND TRY TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE CAN CONTROL AND THE STUDENTS HERE AT OAKLAND CATHOLIC WILL NOT BE RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM UNTIL APRIL 11TH. THAT’S BECAUSE THEIR EASTER BREAK BEGINS NEXT W
Psychiatrist weighs in on impact of active shooter hoax in schools
Dr. Alicia Kaplan with Allegheny Health Network is weighing in on how teachers, staff and parents may be feeling after experiencing an active shooter hoax on Wednesday
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Updated: 12:26 PM EDT Mar 30, 2023
A local doctor who specializes in adult anxiety is weighing in regarding the active shooter hoaxes that occurred in several schools across the state on Wednesday morning.State police said the 911 calls were computer-generated "swatting calls." Swatting calls are a form of harassment and can be categorized as a prank call to emergency service operation centers with the goal to get first responders to a location using a "victim's" phone while falsely reporting a situation. "Today (parents and staff members) may be feeling like they went through a real experience, even though it was a hoax because, in the moment, our city didn't know what was going on," said Dr. Alicia Kaplan, the director of Allegheny Health Network's center for adult anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. "We all felt a sense of threat, uneasiness and despair from this hoax. Even though ultimately all the kids were safe, it was really disconcerting."Kaplan, a parent herself, said people can experience different levels of anxiety or sadness as a result. "Given the stress we have gone through in the last few years, I think a lot of us are still on high alert. So today, people may have intrusive memories about it from yesterday, their heart may beat a little fast," she said. "They may need to take a breath or two just to get in touch with their actual reality today."She added it's important for people to know they're not alone and surround themselves with a supportive group of individuals for reassurance. "We feel like, in the moment, with this uncertainty that we can't control anything, but if we work together and try to find out what the safety plan (is), I think together we can come up with good solutions," she said.
PITTSBURGH — A local doctor who specializes in adult anxiety is weighing in regarding the active shooter hoaxes that occurred in several schools across the state on Wednesday morning.
State police said the 911 calls were computer-generated "swatting calls." Swatting calls are a form of harassment and can be categorized as a prank call to emergency service operation centers with the goal to get first responders to a location using a "victim's" phone while falsely reporting a situation.
"Today (parents and staff members) may be feeling like they went through a real experience, even though it was a hoax because, in the moment, our city didn't know what was going on," said Dr. Alicia Kaplan, the director of Allegheny Health Network's center for adult anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. "We all felt a sense of threat, uneasiness and despair from this hoax. Even though ultimately all the kids were safe, it was really disconcerting."
Kaplan, a parent herself, said people can experience different levels of anxiety or sadness as a result.
"Given the stress we have gone through in the last few years, I think a lot of us are still on high alert. So today, people may have intrusive memories about it from yesterday, their heart may beat a little fast," she said. "They may need to take a breath or two just to get in touch with their actual reality today."
She added it's important for people to know they're not alone and surround themselves with a supportive group of individuals for reassurance.
"We feel like, in the moment, with this uncertainty that we can't control anything, but if we work together and try to find out what the safety plan (is), I think together we can come up with good solutions," she said.
