Mass Violence 101:                         

Best Practices During Response Phase for Mass Violence Incidents to Address Mental Health Needs of Victims and Survivors                               

Monday, July 21st | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM             

Hosted in partnership with the N.C. Governor's Crime Commission.                  

Mass Violence Incidents (MVIs) have multiple immediate and long-term psychological/ behavioral effects on victims and the community (e.g., shock, anxiety, depression, grief, problematic substance use). Members of communities that had impacted mass violence reported significantly heightened rates of PTSD and depression, and high levels of fear and avoidance following MVIs. Individuals with a history of prior victimization and lower social support were at increased risk for mental health problems following MVI in the community. These findings demonstrate the severe ripple effect of MVIs and the importance of considering impact on the entire community following MVI exposure. Based on lessons learned from numerous mass violence responses over the past two decades, best practices are available to provide guidance to victim services and behavioral/mental health professionals during the response phase of a mass violence incident (MVI). This presentation will provide an overview of the immediate impact of MVIs on victims and communities, as well as current best practices in response. Several acute interventions to reduce risk for longer-term mental health problems have been developed with the goal of being implemented shortly following a traumatic event. Participants will learn about short-term approaches to help communities with initial trauma reactions after MVIs.