WASHINGTON, February 16, 2018 — Following is the statement of APA President Jessica Henderson Daniel, PhD, on the shooting at a Florida high school that killed 17 and injured at least 14 others:
“Tragically, our nation is once again confronted with a school shooting, which has cut short all too many lives and forever affected so many others. We must take concerted action as a nation to ensure that our schools are once again safe havens for our children and youth. In this time of shock and grief, psychology and psychologists can offer those in distress the comfort, guidance and counseling they need to maintain resilience in the midst of such profound sorrow.
“While law enforcement is still piecing together the shooter’s motives, some public figures and news reports are focusing on his mental health. It is important to remember that only a very small percentage of violent acts are committed by people who are diagnosed with, or in treatment for, mental illness. Framing the conversation about gun violence in the context of mental illness does a disservice to the victims of violence and unfairly stigmatizes the many others with mental illness. More important, it does not direct us to appropriate solutions to this public health crisis.”
For people who are suffering distress or just wanting to better understand gun violence, the APA offers a variety of resources on its website, including:
- Managing your distress in the aftermath of a shooting
- Helping children manage distress in the aftermath of a shooting
- How to talk to children about difficult news and tragedies
- How much news coverage is OK for children?
- Warning signs of youth violence
- Understanding and Preventing Violence Against Teachers
- Gun Violence: Prediction, Prevention, and Policy (an expert panel report)
- APA’s Gun Violence Prevention Efforts