Recent armed incidents in educational institutions have caused society to refocus its attention on issues of safety and psychological well-being. Specifically, incidents such as a student injuring their teacher at Idrak Lyceum, followed by a student self-inflicting injury with a hunting rifle in Guba city, are not merely individual tragedies but also serious warning signals for families, schools, and the social environment as a whole.
It is interesting to consider whether the increase in firearm use among schoolchildren is more related to parental neglect, or if it stems from an increased propensity for weapons and violence among adolescents due to the influence of social media, games, and an aggressive environment?
Psychologist Ezgi Şahin provided a statement to Azedu.az regarding the topic.
She noted that as children repeatedly "shoot" in virtual environments, they lose the sense of real tragedy; because their emotional state has already adapted to this condition.
"The games children play significantly affect their subconscious. Regularly playing armed games and "shooting" someone in a virtual environment causes children to lose the sense of real tragedy. This is because as they repeat these actions in their daily gaming activities, their emotional states adapt to this condition. As a result, acts of violence do not seem unusual to them. For this reason, adults should pay attention to children's game choices. If an adolescent consistently spends time on games involving aggression, murder, and armed conflict, they exhibit emotional neutrality towards such situations and adapt this behavior to their real life."
At the root of the increasing cases of suicide and aggression in the last year lies parents' failure to dedicate sufficient moral time to their children:
"Today, it is a fundamental reality that both parents work and strive to adapt to a demanding life rhythm to meet both the material and moral needs of the family. However, even with high material provision, it is observed that parents do not dedicate sufficient moral time to adolescents. This moral void is precisely one of the main factors contributing to the sharp increase in suicide cases, self-harm attempts, and aggressive behaviors towards others among adolescents over the past year.
I believe that serious attention should now be paid to this issue during school entry. For safety purposes, it is advisable to check students' bags periodically. Furthermore, the activities of school psychologists should be strengthened, and regular monitoring of students' emotional states should be ensured."
AzEdu.az also received a statement from psychologist Ayten Alakbarova regarding the topic.
She noted that the cases of violence and aggression we observe in schools are, in fact, an "SOS" signal. This indicates children's need for attention, proper guidance, and emotional support:
"In recent years, armed incidents, bullying cases, and even violent and humiliating behaviors among girls in schools have caused serious concern. These incidents are not coincidental, and deeper reasons lie behind them.
We often make comparisons with the past. We say, “we don't want to live in the past,” but at the same time, we turn the past into an excuse. We think, “we didn't grow up with a psychologist, so why should our children?” However, the issue is not about growing up with a psychologist, but about growing up in an environment of healthy thinking and emotional development. Yes, we went to school, received parental upbringing, learned from our teachers, and had individual conversations. The main factors that shaped us were thinking, asking questions, and seeking answers. This was precisely why we became discerning, thoughtful, and inspiring individuals in society.
To know a person, one should look not at their answer, but at the essence of the question they ask. Because a question is a product of thought. A developing brain first analyzes the question internally, then expresses it. The ability to ask questions is an indicator of critical thinking. Today, however, we unknowingly weaken this ability in children. The excessive abundance of information, the influence of social media, content created by artificial intelligence, and even the automation of music – all turn young people into passive consumers. Information overload transforms into information stress.
As a result, the cases of violence and aggression we observe in schools are, in fact, an “SOS” signal. This indicates children's need for attention, proper guidance, and emotional support. We can solve the problem not by comparing it with the past, but by understanding today's reality and adopting a responsible approach."
Being a school psychologist should not be limited to formal indicators. Simply accumulating a certain score and holding a position is not enough. A psychologist must continuously develop, enhance their practical knowledge and skills, and be capable of conducting real psychological work:
"In this regard, psychotherapy and psychological awareness-raising activities should be conducted in schools, both individually and in groups. The goal is to support the healthy development of children's cognition, consciousness, and subconscious processes. Because today, although everyone talks about the concept of “consciousness,” unfortunately, there are also specialists who do not deeply understand its essence. This can hinder children's proper development.
Being a school psychologist should not be limited to formal indicators. Simply accumulating a certain score and holding a position is not enough. A psychologist must continuously develop, enhance their practical knowledge and skills, and be capable of conducting real psychological work. Otherwise, the results of the work undertaken will also be weak."
Awareness and a conscious approach should begin from a very early age; we should even explain the composition of the water we drink to our children:
"Conversations with children, however, should begin with their own questions. For example, if a weapon is kept in the family, how does the child perceive it? How do they understand the purpose of the weapon? If a parent keeps a weapon at home, how do they explain the reason to their child? These questions directly lead us to the importance of working with parents.
In fact, every home contains items that are considered “cold weapons” in a certain sense – kitchen knives, forks, meat cleavers, etc. These items themselves are not dangerous; what makes them dangerous is their intended use and the situation. Children must correctly understand which tool is used for what purpose. When a problem of comprehension arises, the likelihood of risky behaviors emerging increases.
For this reason, awareness and a conscious approach should begin from a very early age. It is important to even explain the composition of the water we drink to our children, to develop their ability to understand the world, to form thinking habits, and to strengthen emotional intelligence. If we can shape a child's mind healthily from a young age, it will be more possible to prevent such serious incidents in the future."
