School shooting contagion?

Contagion, in the broad sense, refers to the transmission or spread of an illness, behavior, or crisis among individuals, groups, or systems. Originally used in the medical field, it is now also used in sociology, behavioral science, and even finance, a trend that displays an alarming virus-like spread. It was a word often used during the COVID-19 pandemic that lasted from 2019 to 2022. In colloquial Filipino, it could be described as hawa-hawa or, if behavioral in nature, gaya-gaya. But it is more complicated than that.

A series of suicides among the youth is often referred to as suicide contagion, such that behavior experts issue warnings about extolling or making much about the deceased’s act. In the home front, and owing to social media, some of these tragedies have become so high-profile that one wonders how this affects the young and vulnerable. This year, I could count at least five young Filipino students who ended their lives and were the subject of much social media exposure.

No longer few and far between are school and crowd shootings, especially in the United States, such that they could be called a contagion. Sociologists, psychologists, and law enforcers are in search of reasons for these tragic incidents. Hereabouts, we had two school shootings over a period of three months—one in Tacloban in June, and this week, in Zamboanga City, where a high school student killed one and injured several before he turned the gun on himself.

As always, the issue of mental health is raised, and, of course, gun control and security in public places. Remember the shooting just before the graduation ceremony at the Ateneo de Manila University some years ago? How the shooter got past security during a special event was a cause for concern.

Benedictine Sr. Mary John Mananzan, now directress of St. Scholastica’s Academy in San Fernando, Pampanga, voiced out her concern. A widely known theologian, she was president of St. Scholastica’s College in Manila for many years and later, prioress of the congregation. I share excerpts from her Aug. 19, 2026, long statement here, for it comes from someone who has been in the education apostolate for much of her religious life.

“[We] believe that every student entrusted to our care is a gift of God whose dignity, well-being, and life must be protected. Education is not only about academic excellence; it is about forming the whole person—mind, heart, body, and spirit. In recent times, however, the alarming recurrence of incidents involving students and firearms in schools, both in the Philippines and abroad, reminds us that we can no longer regard the safety and mental health of our young people as matters that can be addressed only when a crisis occurs. Prevention, vigilance, early intervention, and a culture of care must become part of the very fabric of our school community.

“We therefore recognize the urgent need to strengthen programs that promote and maintain mental and emotional health among our students. Young people today face pressures that previous generations may not have encountered in quite the same way: academic expectations, family concerns, bullying and exclusion, social-media pressures, cyberbullying, loneliness, anxiety about the future, and the constant exposure to disturbing images and violent content…

“We need sustained mental-health education, accessible counseling and referral systems, peer-support initiatives, teacher training in recognizing warning signs, opportunities for students to express their concerns safely, and programs that develop resilience, emotional intelligence, conflict-resolution skills, empathy, and healthy ways of coping with stress. Our Benedictine spirituality offers us a profound foundation for this: listening—Ausculta, O fili—is the beginning of the Rule of St. Benedict. A caring community begins when we learn to listen attentively to one another…

Parents have an important role in being attentive to the digital world their children inhabit. Video games and online platforms are not automatically harmful, and many provide opportunities for creativity, strategy, cooperation, and enjoyment. Yet parents need to know what games their children are playing, what age ratings and content they contain, whom their children interact with online, and how much time is being spent on them. Particular attention should be given to games or online content that normalize or glorify violence, cruelty, weapons, or self-harm, especially when these are accompanied by changes in behavior, sleep, relationships, school performance, or emotional well-being. The answer is not simply prohibition; it is responsible guidance, open conversation, appropriate limits, digital literacy, and parental presence.

“School safety likewise demands reasonable and proportionate measures to prevent weapons from entering the campus … A safe school is not a fortress; it is a community where sensible safeguards and human relationships work together. We also call upon parents to take seriously any indication that a child may have access to a firearm or other dangerous weapon … Our children do not need a perfect world. They need adults who are present, attentive, courageous, and united in protecting them. As we go forth in our mission of being ‘Sent by Christ’ to work for Truth, Justice, and Peace, may we make this commitment tangible: to protect minds, safeguard lives, strengthen families, and build a school community where every young person can learn, grow, and flourish in safety and hope.”

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