A Virtual Resiliency Center at MassViolence.Help has been launched by the Medical University of South Carolina's National Mass Violence Center. The center is a first-of-its kind website that assembles evidence-based resources to help victims, survivors and communities affected by mass violence. It offers customizable pages online for communities to disseminate credible information after a mass violence incident. “When an mass violence incident occurs, the news media and local officials are almost always the immediate, main sources of information,” said the Mass Violence Center's Daniel Smith. "But when the incident is over, communities must work through the aftermath and begin the recovery process. Many communities establish in-person resiliency centers to serve as the focal point for providing victim services and critical resources, and for gaining access to personal and mental health support services. These centers take the lead in community response efforts, support, communication, memorials and healing.”
The Virtual Resiliency Center at MassViolence.Help features four sections: Victim & Social Services, Social Connection & Empowerment, Health & Wellness, and Managing Grief & Trauma. Each section includes what the center describes as easy-to-understand, credible information; videos of survivors and expert service providers sharing their insights; and links to other reliable sources of information. The center addresses topics such as victim rights, social support and relationships after mass violence, stress management, grief and trauma reactions, and managing substance use after an mass violence incident. The center says it can quickly coordinate with officials after a mass violence incident to create a community-specific resource page on its website. “While most people are well-intentioned with their advice, it’s important that those already suffering from physical and mental health trauma after a [mass violence incident] are offered evidence-based strategies for coping and recovering,” said Dean Kilpatrick, the National Mass Violence Center director. The center is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime.
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