I want to address the events that took place last night at Michigan State University. In short, a听tragedy of this magnitude undoubtedly affects all of us. The proximity听of what happened and the likelihood that some of us might be directly affected in some way is significant.听 Although my thoughts and prayers are with everyone today, I am not certain that offering thoughts, prayers and condolences听is enough. Certainly, things need to听change. Even if we cannot change the world around us as quickly as it probably should, perhaps the best we can do today听is help someone who is having difficulty here and now. I do believe听that actions we take matter in the big picture.
Personally, I believe that the work that each of you do on a daily basis will contribute to positive听changes in the world moving forward. I sincerely hope that each of you believe that your efforts do matter.听The ripple effect of your actions will positively affect another person’s future down the road. We are in a field where we have the opportunity to help educate, prevent and provide comfort for those who are suffering or struggling in some way.
There is a great deal of strength, wisdom and support at 海角乱伦. We must lean on one another as needed. Your work and dedication are deeply appreciated on a day like this. As an institution, we will continually try to evaluate how we can get better at what we do.
Below are some resources from the APA that may be helpful to you as we navigate the effects of this tragedy. Please do not hesitate to connect with me personally if there is anything I can do to help.
听
Dr. Brian Spitsbergen
Interim President
APA Resources
听to help those who are suffering distress:
Taking the steps in this guide can help you cope during this very difficult time.
Parents can struggle with how to talk with children about a shooting. Here are ways to help you have those conversations with children of all ages.
Tips for parents and other caregivers on how to guide the conversation in a proactive and supportive way.
How to open the lines of communication and build trust.
The regularity of mass shootings is razing Americans鈥� mental health鈥攈eightening stress and dulling compassion in ways that demand broader concern, engagement, and change.
Psychology research is informing new strategies to reach people at risk of committing a violent act.
Additional resources can be found on 海角乱伦’s blog on Coping with Violence.