EDC Statement on Gun Violence
Acts of violence have a profound and lasting impact on ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities. In the wake of some of the most recent mass shootings, including the tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, at the Tops Market in Buffalo, New York, and at a church in Laguna Woods, California, EDC shares in this intense grief and wishes to express our deepest sympathies to the students, teachers, parents, families, and community members both personally and collectively affected by these horrific events.
As our nation grapples with an ongoing mental health crisis, it is important to remember the role these events can play in exacerbating mental health challenges—and that the gun violence epidemic is distinct from the mental health epidemic.
For parents and teachers searching for ways to talk about gun violence or to help children and adults alike cope with difficult emotions in the aftermath of mass shootings, we’ve provided several resources below.
As we move through the days and weeks ahead, we at EDC hope for healing in Uvalde, Buffalo, Laguna Woods, and the many other communities across our country impacted by these acts of unthinkable violence.
Resources
Supporting Adults
Supporting Children
- Child Parent Psychotherapy: After a Crisis, How Young Children Heal
- Sesame Street: Safer Space, Caring Connections
- American School Counselor Association: Helping Students After a School Shooting
Supporting Communities
- From Healing to Action: A Toolkit for Gun Violence Survivors and Allies
- American Counseling Association: Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting
If you need support for thoughts of suicide for yourself or someone you know, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.