Campus Offers Support Services in Wake of Virginia Tech Tragedy
The UMass Amherst community was shocked and saddened to learn of the terrible events that have taken place at Virginia Tech University. Our students and members of this community are, to varying degrees, in the midst of dealing with a tragedy of immense proportions. We can all play a role in helping one another deal with these unthinkable events to facilitate healing and recovery. We wanted to offer some thoughts and suggestions as you deal with students in class, in formal and informal gatherings, and on an individual basis. Some of these ideas are very basic and self-evident:
- A crisis situation is one in which an individual's typical coping responses don't work or may be less effective than usual.
- An individual's response to a crisis is very individualized. We must be careful not to judge another's response, especially if it's different from our own.
- The thoughts, feelings, and behaviors experienced may be in response to the event at hand as well as previous (and potentially unresolved) events from the past.
- A sense of anxiety and panic would be absolutely predictable in response to recent events. There is so much we don't know; trying to find answers to explain such a tragedy is normal. It's important to validate the concerns rather than talk people out of them. Remember, in crisis situations some people may not respond in their typical rational way.
- In crisis situations, we can help people by engaging in a problem-solving approach. This would include identifying the issues and then going through a step-by-step process to identify possible solutions for resolving the problem
- Multiple resources for support are available on campus. These include speaking with faculty, advisers, chaplains, the Dean of Students office, residence life staff, health services staff and campus support services.
--Professional mental health clinicians may be contacted at:
Mental Health, University Health Services: 413-545-2337
Counseling and Assessment Services: 413-545-0333
Psychological Services Center: 413-545-0041
Everywoman’s Center Counseling Services: 413-577-0077
Faculty and Staff Assistance Program: 413-545-0350
Counselors will be available to students in the Reading Room of the Campus Center (main floor, across from the Graduate Lounge) on Wednesday, April 18 from 4 to 7 pm. The Religious Affairs Committee is also organizing a campus vigil to be held on Thursday, April 19, 2007 in the Campus Center Auditorium beginning at 6 pm, open to the entire campus community.
Below are links to resources that you may want to be aware of:
Tips for College and University Students: Managing Your Distress in the Aftermath of the Virginia Tech Shootings, prepared by the American Psychological Association.
Critical Incident Stress Sheets: Helpful resource describing normal response to critical incidents, together with some practical suggestions.
Managing Traumatic Stress: Tips for Recovering From Disasters and Other Traumatic Events, prepared by the American Psychological Association
Harry Rockland-Miller, Ph.D.
Director, Mental Health Division
University Health Services
University of Massachusetts Amherst