Helpful Resources As We Process What Happened In Uvalde, Texas
I’m a very empathetic person and this is especially true whenever I learn about someone’s grief. Someone else losing a loved one tends to take me back to losing my own mom and it brings up this knot in my throat kind of feeling.
Learning about the passing of 19 children and 2 adults in Uvalde, Texas this week has been really hard to start processing. Right now, those who weren’t personally impacted by the loss of life in Uvalde are experiencing something called collective grief. I love Grief Recovery Center’s definition for it:
“Collective grief happens when a community, society, village, or nation all experience extreme change or loss. Collective grief can manifest in the wake of major events such as: war, natural disasters, or others that result in mass casualties or widespread tragedy.”
In trying to put to words what I’ve personally been feeling over the last few days, I turned to my podcast and used today’s episode as a mental health check-in. You can listen to the 15-minute episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Below are some of the facts and resources I shared throughout the episode.
TURN INWARDS THEN OUTWARDS
During moments like this I immediately want to find a way to fix the world, but then I get consumed with intrusive, spiraling thoughts, skipping meals, or not living the specific spot on the couch. The only way you can tackle any of the below is if you take care of yourself first.
Ask yourself these questions:
Did I step outside today?
Do I feel safe in my body? What’s one thing I can do to feel safer?
Have I had water?
Can I watch something that’s distracting for 30 minutes?
Can I ask someone for a hug to help ground me?
most americans support gun control measures
The stats show that 81% of Americans support universal background checks, 87% want to ban gun purchases by those with mental illness, and 80% reject concealed carry without a permit.
THERE ARE TWO BILLS SENATORS CAN REACT TO
While larger, more sweeping measures for gun control may be slower to come together, there are two pieces of legislation that Senators could be motivated to push through asap. Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, H.R.8 and Enhanced Background Checks of 2021, H.R. 1446 — USA Today published a full breakdown of what each bill details.
If you’re trying to figure out how to reach out to your senator on the above, here are some tips:
Find your senator’s contact information by tracking them down on the official Senate website or grabbing their phone number from this BuzzFeed list.
When you call, use this script:
Hello my name is _______. I’m a constituent from (state) (zip code). I don’t need a response. I am concerned about the lack of senate vote on the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021 and Enhanced Background Checks of 2021. I strongly encouraged (Senators Name) to please support a vote and the passage of these two acts. Thank you for your hard work.
Want to know where your senator stands before calling? PBS asked every senator their stance on gun control.
YOU CAN HELP THE UVALDE COMMUNITY
The Cut pulled together a slew of resources, as well as verified fundraising campaigns.
THINGS THAT GAVE ME HOPE
Senator Chris Murphy went off on his fellow colleagues and it made me hopeful that not all is lost.
I loved this graphic from @MakingTheBodyAHome on collective grief that my friend Rachel Lyle shared.
Rachel, who is a reiki + meditation teacher, will be leading a free June Group Meditation and Healing Session that I can’t recommend more, particularly as we navigate through so much grief.
Latinx Therapy has compiled a list of mental health professionals who are offering pro-bono sessions for those impacted by Uvalde.
If you’re in need of immediate mental health support, you can call 800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741.