It’s January 27th. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 45 mass shootings since the beginning of this year. (Mass shootings are defined as 4 or more victims injured or killed, excluding the perpetrator, at a single location). While most of the events on this list did not make it to the front pages of national news sources, last week we heard about at a shooting at a dance hall in Monterrey Park, California, and, a few days later, a mass shooting at Half Moon Bay, leaving a total of 19 people dead.
Over the last decade, mass shootings and gun violence have increased in frequency. Based on the numbers we have thus far, this year will not be an exception.
And there is no doubt that gun violence is taking a toll on the mental health of Americans. In this article, Rebecca Brendel, MD, JD, current president of the American Psychiatric Association and Director of Law and Ethics at the Center for Law, Brain, and Behavior at Mass General, discusses how to start to process these events and how to get help. The article includes a useful list of resources for individuals seeking professional help.
Especially after well publicized events, it is likely that children will have questions and worries. Parents and caregivers often struggle with finding the “right” way to talk to kids about yet another tragedy. The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Mass General, provides a very useful list of resources to help support families to navigate the topic of gun violence with children.
Mental Health Resources
After a Mass Shooting – Caregiver Resources (Clay Center for Young Health Minds)
How to Talk With Kids About Gun Violence (Eugene Beresin, MD and Gretchen Felopulos, PhD in Psychology Today)
