Local students, families feeling mental impact after Kansas City mass shooting

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Mental health experts say it is important to make sure you’re talking about your feelings after witnessing a violent event.

Those who attended the Kansas City Chiefs parade and were unharmed after the mass shooting came home with a range of emotions from anger, frustration, and sadness.

For anyone who may have watched it unfold on TV or their phones, mental health experts say even if they weren’t physically there, they can also be impacted. USD 259 says that students might be having a hard time understanding what they were part of if they were there.

“Just really honing in on their feelings, how did you feel then, how do you feel now, what are you going to do if you start feeling that way again and just kind of walk through the process,” program specialist for school counselors Stephanie Anderson said.

Anderson also says that parents should help their kids get back to a sense of normalcy after a tragic event and limit the amount of coverage that they see.

“Routine helps a child get back into the groove of things, and that’s what’s safe to them is routine, and I encourage families not to watch it again and again and again,” Anderson said.

USD 259 is also making counseling available, and they are encouraging parents to call their school and ask for counseling for their children or if parents themselves want to learn about resources.

Feelings of anxiety and fear can lead to people not wanting to attend large events after such chaos ensues. A licensed clinical social worker with Comcare says there are steps people can take to not let fear drive them away.

“Practicing breathing. Be aware of your surroundings. Be around people that make you feel safe, and be in places that make you feel safe as well,” said Michelle Calvert, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for Comcare.

If you need some help dealing with what you saw, you can call the 988 hotline or reach out to Comcare at 316-660-7500.