04/01/2023
As a community, Buffalo has experienced a high level of trauma in the past several months. In addition to the Covid pandemic, which generated trauma for many, the community continues to recover from the mass shooting at Tops in May, the deaths of 40 community members in the Blizzard of ‘22, and the deaths of 5 children in a house fire on New Year’s Eve. Now we are experiencing the effects of witnessing the traumatic injury of Damar Hamlin in the Bills-Bengals football game on Monday. Traumatic events experienced by an entire community may heighten the mental health struggles many people experience privately.
There are things you can do right now to help yourself if you are experiencing the effects of trauma:
Reach out, talk about the event, share your feelings. Stay connected with supportive family, friends, neighbors, or community groups.
Attend to your physical well-being including eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising.
Avoid alcohol or drug use, which can intensify negative emotions.
Limit exposure to repeated news coverage of traumatic events.
Because traumatic events can leave us thinking about the deepest questions about life and death, you may also benefit from reaching out to your spiritual or religious supports.
If you are feeling suicidal, seek immediate help by reaching out to trusted family or friends, and/or by contacting emergency services. Call 988 to get support from the National Su***de and Crisis Helpline or 716-834-3131 for Crisis Services in Erie County.
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