The Long-Term Psychological Effects of Hazing and How We Can Prevent Them

Danny Santulli, an 18-year-old college freshman, was a victim of a hazing incident in 2021. During a fraternity hazing ritual at the University of Missouri, he was forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol, resulting in alcohol poisoning and brain damage. Danny was left unable to speak, walk, or see, permanently disabling him. Once a vibrant young man with dreams for the future, he now requires round-the-clock care and will never live a normal life again. His devastating condition serves as a reminder of the consequences of hazing, showing how a night of reckless behavior can destroy a life. This tragic case also highlights the devastating physical and mental consequences of hazing, emphasizing the need for prevention and accountability in such practices.

Student being bullied by a group of students

Hazing can have profound and long-term effects on mental health. Here’s how it can lead to psychiatric issues:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Victims of hazing often experience repeated trauma, humiliation, and abuse, which can result in PTSD. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and avoidance of reminders of the hazing event.

Major Depressive Disorder: The severe emotional distress and feelings of helplessness caused by hazing can lead to persistent depressive symptoms. Victims may experience prolonged sadness, loss of interest in daily activities, feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of suicide.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Hazing can trigger chronic anxiety, where victims remain in a constant state of worry or fear. This anxiety might generalize beyond the specific event, affecting daily functioning and interactions.

Social Anxiety Disorder: After enduring public humiliation, victims may develop a fear of social situations where they believe they will be scrutinized or judged, potentially leading to avoidance of group activities or relationships.

Substance Use Disorders: Many hazing rituals involve forced consumption of alcohol or drugs, which can lead to substance dependence. Additionally, victims might use substances as a coping mechanism to deal with the emotional aftermath.

Psychosis or Psychotic Disorders: A traumatic event like hazing can cause a psychotic break by overwhelming a person’s ability to cope with extreme stress, leading to a disconnection from reality. Trauma triggers an intense stress response in the body. This can lead to hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, flooding the body with stress hormones like cortisol. Stress can impair brain function, particularly in regions involved in regulating emotions and reality perception, such as the prefrontal cortex, possibly leading to psychosis. Trauma can also overwhelm the brain’s cognitive processing abilities.

Adjustment Disorders: Victims may struggle to adjust to the pressures and aftermath of hazing, leading to a short-term but severe inability to cope with life changes. This can manifest as depression, anxiety, or behavioral problems.

Dissociative Disorders: Severe hazing trauma can cause dissociation, where victims feel detached from themselves or their surroundings. This can develop into more severe dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder (DID)

Parents play a crucial role in preventing hazing by educating their children, fostering open communication, and helping them make informed decisions. There are various strategies they can implement:

1. Education and Awareness

  • Teach About Hazing: Educate your child on what hazing is, the risks involved, and the long-term mental and physical consequences.
  • Discuss Consent and Boundaries: Help your child understand that no one has the right to force or coerce them into harmful activities. Teach them to recognize when a situation is unsafe.
  • Recognize the Signs: Make sure your child knows the red flags, such as secrecy, abnormal behavior from peers, excessive alcohol or drug use, or unreasonable demands from group leaders.

2. Open Communication

  • Create a Safe Space for Conversations: Encourage your child to talk openly about their experiences, particularly in situations where they feel pressured by peers or unsure about participating in certain activities.
  • Stay Involved: Regularly check in with your child about their social life, group memberships, and activities to keep a pulse on any potential issues.

3. Encourage Healthy Decision-Making

  • Discuss Peer Pressure: Have conversations about the dangers of peer pressure and encourage them to stand firm in their values, even if it means walking away from a group or situation.
  • Support Alternative Social Networks: Encourage your child to join organizations or groups that emphasize positive, supportive, and inclusive environments rather than those focused on dangerous initiation rituals.

4. Monitor Your Child’s Involvement in Groups

  • Research the Organization: Investigate the reputation and history of any groups or organizations your child considers joining, whether it’s a fraternity, sports team, or other social groups.
  • Ask About Policies: Ensure the group has clear anti-hazing policies and protocols for preventing and reporting incidents. Encourage your child to choose organizations that prioritize safety and respect.

5. Advocate for Anti-Hazing Policies

  • Engage with School Administrators: Advocate for strong anti-hazing policies at your child’s school or university. Ensure these policies are not only in place but actively enforced.
  • Promote Education Programs: Encourage schools to implement hazing awareness programs for both students and parents.

6. Empower Your Child to Say No

  • Build Confidence: Help your child build self-esteem and confidence so they feel empowered to refuse participation in hazing, regardless of peer pressure or fear of exclusion.

7. Know Legal Rights and Resources

  • Inform Your Child About Legal Protections: Make sure your child knows that hazing is illegal in many states, and victims have legal rights. Encourage them to report any incidents to the proper authorities.
  • Support Victims of Hazing: If hazing does occur, support your child in seeking professional help, whether through counseling or legal assistance, and hold those responsible accountable.

Educational institutions can play a pivotal role in preventing hazing by creating a culture of safety, accountability, and respect.

1. Anti-Hazing Policies

  • Establish Comprehensive Policies: Develop and enforce strict anti-hazing policies that apply to all student organizations, athletic teams, and social groups. Clearly define what constitutes hazing and outline the consequences of participating in or failing to report.
  • Zero-Tolerance Approach: Enforce a zero-tolerance policy. Ensure students and staff understand that any form of hazing, regardless of intent or severity, will result in disciplinary actions, including suspension, expulsion, or criminal charges.

2. Education and Training

  • Mandatory Hazing Education Programs: Require all students, particularly those involved in Greek life, athletics, or leadership positions, to undergo annual hazing prevention training. This training should include the legal, physical, and psychological consequences of hazing.
  • Workshops for Staff and Faculty: Train staff and faculty to recognize signs of hazing and respond appropriately. Ensure they understand their role in preventing hazing and reporting incidents.
  • Bystander Intervention Training: Equip students with the skills to intervene safely when they witness hazing. Promote the idea that everyone has a responsibility to prevent hazing.

3. Reporting Mechanisms

  • Anonymous Reporting Systems: Provide an anonymous hotline or online platform where students can report hazing incidents without fear of retaliation. Make these systems widely known and easily accessible.

4. Monitoring and Oversight

  • Increased Supervision of Student Organizations: Implement stricter oversight of fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and other student groups, especially during recruitment or initiation periods. Regularly audit these organizations to ensure compliance with anti-hazing policies.

5. Culture Change

  • Promote a Positive Campus Culture: Foster a culture that prioritizes inclusion, respect, and personal growth over initiation rituals. Celebrate organizations that promote positive group bonding activities and do not engage in hazing.

6. Proactive Prevention During High-Risk Times

  • Increased Vigilance During Initiation Periods: Pay close attention during recruitment seasons, when hazing is most likely to occur. Conduct regular check-ins with new members and actively monitor for signs of hazing.
  • Ban High-Risk Activities: Prohibit activities that are traditionally associated with hazing, such as excessive alcohol consumption, late-night events, or physically demanding tasks.

7. Support for Hazing Victims

  • Access to Counseling Services: Provide immediate access to counseling and psychological support for students who experience or witness hazing. Ensure mental health resources are widely available and de-stigmatized.
  • Follow-Up and Long-Term Care: Ensure that victims receive long-term care, including support in adjusting back to campus life, academic accommodations, and ongoing mental health care if needed.

8. Collaboration with Law Enforcement

  • Work Closely with Authorities: Establish clear protocols for involving law enforcement when incidents occur, especially when criminal acts such as physical assault or forced alcohol consumption are involved.

The tragic case of Danny Santulli underscores the urgent need for a cultural shift regarding hazing practices in educational institutions and beyond. The devastating physical, emotional, and psychological consequences of hazing demand action from schools, parents, students, and lawmakers. By fostering awareness, enforcing strict anti-hazing policies, and encouraging open conversations, we can help prevent future tragedies and ensure that no individual is forced to endure the suffering and lifelong consequences that Danny and countless others have experienced. It is our collective responsibility to end hazing and protect the well-being of all students.

Vishwani Sahai-Siddiqui, MDVishwani Sahai-Siddiqui, MD

Vishwani Sahai-Siddiqui is a residency- and fellowship-trained psychiatrist, now a medical writer and editor and the owner of The Cognitive Quill. For more information please visit cognitivequill.com or email vishwanipsychmd@gmail.com.

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