I am seeing an increasing number of stories in the media where schools are recommending against, or even prohibiting, the discussion of sensitive issues, such as depression, suicide, sexual molestation, PTSD,etc, because discussing the subject may 'trigger' a negative response in those with experiences with the subjects. I find this trend disturbing. I am not aware that such a phenomena exists based solely on discussions (I am aware of some responses by those with PTSD to certain sounds or sights, but not discussions). This trend is stifiling in the schools open forums on very serious issues that young people need to be aware of and educated on. Is there any research done, or in progress, on the 'trigger phenomena'?
You should look at the research of Mady Gould from the university of Columbia in NYC. This paper for example:Gould MS, Marrocco FA, Kleinman M, Thomas JG, Mostkoff K, Cote J, Davies M: Evaluating Iatrogenic Risk of Suicide Screening Programs: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of the American Medical Association 2005;293(13): 1635-1643
The iatrogenic risk of suicide screening is well established but I don't see what this has to do with the fact that schools are prohibiting discussions of issues such as suicide based on the idea it triggers people. My son had to watch graphic scenes of hanging in the Shawshank Redemption as part of the curriculum for english at his school. After he hanged himself the school were asked what discussion was had with the children exposed to this movie about suicide prevention, where to go for help, the impact on family and friends etc. Their response was that the policy was not to have those discussions with children in case it caused copycat suicide. I believe such a discussion may have saved my son's life.
Maria, I am sorry for your loss.
From what I have observed, keeping anything hush hush from everyone tends to keep those who are experiencing something under these subjects alienated.
It's a two-sided coin. One, a fear of copying comes to mind. Yet, awareness is what has helped people come to understand some of what mental illness entails.
Link:http://www.sprc.org/sites/sprc.org/files/librar/AfteraSuicideToolkitforSchools.pdf
^^^^This link is about an organization that helps schools talk about suicide after the matter happens. So, I am guessing that not addressing it at all is dangerous. Yes, I realize that is an assumption not based off linked empirical data. So, take it with a grain of salt.
However unhelpful this is, I have to chalk it up to "It depends" most of the time. Triggering flashbacks and panic is not the greatest thing to do, but to close down a whole flood of information that could save a life is not helpful to anyone.
This is a really good question.
Thank you Brittany, Maria and Remy. I have been unable to do any work lately but I did want to follow this up. The discussion of the Trigger Phenomena seems to arise during times of relative quiet but vanishes during very eventful times. To illustrate; I posted the original question at a time when there was not much discussion of campus rape. Recently the issue has exploded on campuses and in the media and I have not seen any reports that the focus on, and ongoing discussion of, campus rape has resulted in an increase in students suffering from anxiety or other debilitating disorders. If Trigger Phenomena is truly as powerful as some claim there should be a dramatic increase in reactions by affected students. Add to the rape discussions the other powerful issues of race and abuse of power by law enforcement that are currently being addressed on campuses, and there should be a very large increase in the number of students seeking help as a result of triggers. I am not seeing this. It would be a good time to do research on this and find out if the Trigger Phenomena exists as theorized.
Just after my update, I came across this. It was written in March 2014, before the current focus on campus issues. I am not finding any articles written post focus.
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116842/trigger-warnings-have-spread-blogs-college-classes-thats-bad
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