The Continuum of Mass Violence Behavioral and Mental Health Services from Preparedness Through Response and Resiliency

Not everyone will go on to have significant mental health issues after mass violence. However, if they do, there are evidence-based interventions that can decrease the potential for long term suffering.

While we often think about mental health being important in the recovery from a mass violence incident, it is imperative that we consider mental health in the preparation phases to ensure that the community is best prepared to deliver evidence-based practice to a range of populations.

Schools can provide critical mental health support to students affected by MVI. This includes PREPaRE interventions to mitigate trauma in the short-term and psychotherapeutic interventions designed to be delivered to schools for longer-term supports. But most critical is building resiliency through social support, relationships, and connectedness to facilitate post-traumatic growth.