Hundreds of people witnessed a mass shooting at Maplewood Park in Rochester last week, where five people were injured in two shootings. The trauma did not end there.
In the wake of gun violence, we must take stock of what we have seen and heard and seen.
Hundreds of people began to flee when gunshots rang out in the public food court on July 28, interrupting what had been a joyous day. Others stood up to help the injured, becoming first responders without training. Others, safe in their homes, were exposed to the violent situation in videos posted on social media last week.
Some of that suffering continues with guns.
“A lot of people were there when Tyasia (Manning) and Phylicia (Court) were killed,” Dr. Shirley Greene, commissioner of the city’s Department of Recreation and Human Services, said Monday. “All these people will never be the same because of the violent and selfish decisions made by other people.”
Mental health services available after Maplewood Park shooting
The City of Rochester is offering mental health services to anyone affected by the Maplewood Park shooting. Free travel advice will be available at the following locations this week:
- Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 5 to 7 pm: Edgerton R-Center, 41 Backus St.
- Wednesday, Aug. 7, from 5 to 7 pm: Carter R-Center, 500 Carter St.
- Thursday, Aug. 8, from 5 to 7 pm: Thomas P Ryan R-Center, 530 Webster Ave.
Trained therapists will be on site to provide short-term support for individuals and connect them to long-term resources as needed. Additional meetings may be announced soon and those unable to make the evening hours should call 585-428-6630 for support, Greene said.
Help from the city’s Person In Crisis team is available 24/7 by calling 211 or 988.
Mayor Malik Evans encouraged people to take advantage of the resources, acknowledging that seeking mental health support is sometimes stigmatized in the Black community.
“This is something that really hasn’t been done in Rochester before where we said to the whole community: If you feel affected, come to a place and talk to someone,” Evans said. “At least let’s get you together. At least let’s talk about this. We think the mental health aspect is very important.”
What are the mental health symptoms after witnessing a shooting?
Dr. April Aycock, Monroe County Director of Mental Health Services, said that the trauma will come out differently for each person affected by the shooting.
Others will pull in, avoiding the topic. Many may find themselves inconsolable, crying suddenly. Some could see thoughts of someone being shot in the middle of the night, waking up with anxious thoughts.
No matter what your symptoms are, she said the most important thing to understand is that you are not alone. There are places that are committed to helping you heal.
Some of that healing came in the form of public meetings at Parcel 5 and Maplewood Park last week.
Evans said part of the effort is to ensure that gun violence is not the norm in Rochester.
He said: “You can’t go back to the normal days of life as if nothing happened.”
He added: “We have another person in the park who went there for a barbeque or to push his child in a boat, but now he has to meet with guns.” “The implications of that are huge.”
– Kayla Canne covers public safety for the Democrat and Chronicle, focusing on police accountability, government surveillance and how individuals are affected by violence. Follow her on Twitter @kaylacanne and @bykaylacanne on Instagram. Contact kcanne@gannett.com.
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