Healing after Community Violence
District Attorney’s Office’s Victim Services Unit
Mass Violence and Trauma-Specific Information
General Disaster Response and Recovery Information
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Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event: Managing Stress
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Be Red Cross Ready: Taking Care of Your Emotional Health after a Disaster, 2009
Resources for Children, Youth, Parents and Other Caregivers, and Schools
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Helping Your Child Cope With Media Coverage of Disasters: A Fact Sheet for Parents, 2011
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Restoring a Sense of Safety in the Aftermath of a Shooting: Tips for Parents and Professionals
Resources for Community Leaders
Local Resources
A 24-hour Disaster Distress Helpline is available
1-800-985-5990 or text TALKWITHUS to 66746 Press 2 for Spanish.
Provided by the Behavioral Health Services Department free of charge. Drop-ins welcome!
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 1215 First Street Gilroy, CA 95020
Victim Services Unit – District Attorney’s Office
1 (408) 295-2656
If you were at the Gilroy Garlic Festival during the shooting you and your family qualify for victim witness services.
People seeking property abandoned at the festival can contact Gilroy Police Department.
Online Resources
Unexpected violence and loss can result in feelings of fear, panic, loss grief or guilt among people who have a connection to the event and others in the community, or even those who are watching it on the news. These feelings can emerge days or even weeks later.
Mass Violence and Trauma-Specific Information
This SAMHSA tip sheet introduces some of the signs of grief and anger after an incident of community violence, provides useful information about to how to cope with grief, and offers tips for helping children deal with grief.
Coping With Grief After Community Violence
The SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline supports survivors, family members, responders, and recovery workers who are affected by incidents of mass violence and other disasters. Information on this web page includes a list of risk factors for distress, information on lockdown notices and other warnings, and additional resources for coping.
General Disaster Response and Recovery Information
This SAMHSA tip sheet gives stress prevention and management tips for dealing with the effects of trauma, mass violence, or terrorism. It lists tips to relieve stress, describes how to know when to seek professional help, and provides accompanying resources.
Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event: Managing Stress
This fact sheet from the American Red Cross explains normal reactions to a disaster, what a survivor can do to cope with these emotions, and where to seek additional help if needed.
Be Red Cross Ready: Taking Care of Your Emotional Health after a Disaster
Resources for Children, Youth, Parents and Other Caregivers, and Schools
This fact sheet can help parents, caregivers, and teachers recognize and address problems in children and teens affected by a disaster. Readers can learn about signs of stress reactions that are common in young survivors at different ages, as well as how to help children through grief. Also, see: Traumatic Grief and Terrorism and Violence
This fact sheet explains how media coverage of a traumatic event may affect children and provide strategies to help parents address these effects.
Helping Your Child Cope With Media Coverage of Disasters: A Fact Sheet for Parents
From the National ChildTraumatic Stress Network, lists of different psychological reactions to a shooting and its related consequences (e.g., decreases in school performance, sleep disturbances) are provided.
Psychological Impact of the Recent Shooting
This fact sheet from the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress provides tips for professionals to help them communicate effectively about a shooting, ensure physical safety and security, and provide answers to some common questions.
Restoring a Sense of Safety in the Aftermath of a Shooting: Tips for Parents and Professionals
Community Leaders
Leaders play critical roles in the recovery of communities and individuals after disasters.
Videos
SUPPORTING WELLNESS AND RECOVERY AFTER A TRAGIC EVENT
In light of the recent VTA tragedy it is important for family, friends, co-workers, and other community members to focus on wellness and recovery. This document was developed to assist Adults with the first 6-8 weeks after a traumatic event and highlights how to work actively to prevent long-term behavioral health impacts.
Link to down load document (Click here)
Dr. Bruce Perry has provided two talks in Santa Clara County in support of healing after a mass shooting. His talks can be viewed on the County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services YouTube page at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8jWGo1V3wuMB9IWOpomivA