Post-Traumatic Stress and Alcohol-Related Problems Following a College Shooting: Effect of Help-Seeking

A framework for guiding transformative growth after school shootings.

“…Many factors make it difficult to research crisis-response strategies that address psychosocial needs following a school shooting. They include (a) the relative rarity of these traumatic events (Paradice, 2017), (b) difficulties devoting resources to evaluation in the midst of crisis (Crepeau-Hobson et al, 2012; Crepeau-Hobson & Summers, 2011), and (c) some victims’ reticence to participate in research (Kiilakoski et al, 2014, Siebert et al, 2018). Consequently, insights into existing response strategies are drawn from a limited body of empirical research, as well as from guides written for professionals responding to school-based emergencies.…”

“…Nevertheless, student groups, like Virginia Tech’s Hokies United, have successfully organized on-campus events to facilitate remembrance and mourning, provide a distraction for students, and raise funds to aid survivors in the aftermath of these events (Schneiter & MacEachran, 2008). Other responders have orchestrated community events including religious services, vigils, and encounters with therapy dogs (Siebert et al, 2018).…”

“…This involves reunifying children with their families and preexisting social supports; providing accurate and timely information about the crisis event; creating safe spaces for people to interact informally; addressing people’s basic physical needs; assessing and triaging psychological needs; and providing information about traumatic stress and coping strategies. Responses to shootings at a college in Finland, two high schools in the U.S., and a college in the U.S. also prioritized these needs in the recoil and postimpact phases (Crepeau-Hobson et al, 2012; Crepeau-Hobson & Summers, 2011; Siebert et al, 2018; Turunen et al, 2014).…”