“No demonic possession. It’s mass psychogenic illness”- Bontoc school dismisses viral claims of students being possessed by spirits

Bontoc, Mountain Province – Saint Vincent's School–High School Department (SVSI-HSD) in Poblacion, Bontoc has clarified that no supernatural phenomenon or demonic possession was involved in the recent incident affecting several of its high school students after videos circulating on social media during the first week of July fueled widespread speculation.

In a statement released on July 5, the school said the clarification came after a careful review of the incident and consultations with school administrators, Church authorities, and qualified medical professionals from the Bontoc Municipal Health Office.

The statement came after videos showing students displaying unusual behavior spread online, prompting some social media users to claim that the incident was the result of demonic possession. Several of the videos have since been removed or are no longer publicly available.

However, the school rejected the claims, saying there was no evidence that the incident involved demonic possession or any other supernatural phenomenon. Instead, it said the circumstances were consistent with emotional contagion leading to mass psychogenic illness.

"...we have found no evidence that the incident involved demonic possession or any other supernatural phenomenon. Rather, the circumstances are consistent with what is commonly described as emotional contagion that led to mass psychogenic illness, in which heightened stress and anxiety can spread within a group and produce genuine emotional and physical reactions," the statement read.

Mass psychogenic illness, historically referred to as mass hysteria, is a well-documented medical condition in which stress, fear, or anxiety spreads among members of a close-knit group, particularly in schools, workplaces, or religious communities.

Although symptoms such as fainting, shaking, hyperventilation, crying, headaches, and temporary weakness are real, medical experts recognize them as physiological responses to psychological stress rather than evidence of supernatural activity.

In response to the speculation, the school appealed to the public—particularly social media content creators—to refrain from spreading rumors, speculation, and unverified information, warning that such claims could intensify fear and anxiety and unintentionally harm those directly affected.

While dismissing claims of supernatural causes, the administration acknowledged and respected the intention of community elders to join the school in prayers and traditional cleansing and protective rites, recognizing the role of faith and local culture in helping students cope during difficult situations.

Meanwhile, a similar incident was reported in Mountain Province in 2009, when at least 100 students at Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School were affected by what was likewise reported as mass hysteria. Another episode reportedly occurred during a special Mass held for those affected.