CBHA General Alert
May 24th, 2022
Mourning the Lives Lost in the Mass Shooting at Robb Elementary School
Dear Colleagues,

Today, in Uvalde, Texas, what once was unimaginable violence took place at an elementary school. An 18-year-old opened fire at Robb Elementary School, killing nineteen people, including eighteen children and one teacher.

Since the Columbine School Shooting in 1999, the United States has increasingly endured horrific violence in our schools. In 2021, according to Education Week, there were 34 incidents classified as school shootings at educational institutions (the highest since the organization started its database).

A school shooting is a terrible and traumatic event for parents, students, and the community as a whole. It's critical to the health of our communities that we mourn and honor the lives lost today and earlier this month in mass shootings at a grocery market in Buffalo, N.Y., and a church in Southern California.

Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and all those affected by gun violence. As we try to cope with the impacts and trauma caused by these shootings, please engage in self-care. If you or someone you love is struggling emotionally, please know that you are not alone. SAMHSA's Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990) provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.

In the wake of these horrific shootings, providing behavioral health care, particularly to our children, is of utmost importance. CBHA will continue to work with our members, legislators, and the public to lead dialogue and action to eliminate inequities and strengthen our system of care across the state of California.
 
In Service,
Le Ondra Clark Harvey, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
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We appreciate our Business Associates for their partnerships that both provide our members exceptional services and sponsor our advocacy efforts.