Take care of yourself, check on neighbors after tragedies

Tragedies within a community can elicit a wide range of emotions from residents.

Being affected by a tragedy — even if not directly impacted — is a normal human reaction, and experts say it is important not only to take care of yourself but to check in with other community members, according to the American Counseling Association.

“You don’t know what people have going on in their heads and in their lives. We need to show a little concern and compassion for people,” said Kim Schneiderman, executive director of Southwest Washington’s chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Mental health resources

• National suicide hotline: Call or text 988. An online chat is available at 988lifeline.org. Services are free, confidential and 24/7.
• National Crisis Text Line: Text “Home” to 741741.
• Consumer Voices Are Born local warm line: 360-903-2853, 4 p.m.-midnight daily. A warm line is a confidential, free phone service offering mental health support. Unlike a crisis line, it is not for emergency situations.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text TELLNOW to 85944.
• Clark County YWCA SafeChoice Hotline: 360-695-0501 or 1-800-695-0167.

To learn more about what happens when you call a behavioral crisis line, visit https://namiswwa.org/resources/crisis/.

Reaching out to your community members

After a community tragedy, it’s important for community members to check in with their family, peers, colleagues or neighbors.

Schneiderman said although it may be uncomfortable to check-in on somebody who may be struggling, talking can be a lifesaving measure.

“People want to respect people’s boundaries, I get that, or they think about the discomfort of asking someone if they are OK or need anything,” Schneiderman said. “But they don’t consider the discomfort of what’s going to happen if they don’t ask that question and that person takes their life. The worst that can happen is that you are embarrassed, or someone gets angry with you. That is a whole lot better than the alternative.”

To find more resources on talking with peers visit, https://tinyurl.com/48a2fhj3.