A CALL FOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION: ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND EMPATHY TRAINING

#EndGunViolence #MassShootingPrevention #MentalHealthAwareness #EmpathyTraining #ViolencePrevention #ActiveListening #CommunitySafety #CongressActNow #MentalHealthMatters #WalkInPeace #NationalSafety #PreventTragedy #EmergencyFundingNow

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WILL CONGRESS PROVIDE EMERGENCY FUNDINGTending The Peace

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WILL CONGRESS PROVIDE EMERGENCY FUNDING TO HELP CURE GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES, BY IMMEDIATELY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO: (1)DIAGNOSE MENTAL AND NEUROLOGICAL DISABILITIES, AND (2) MANDATE ACTIVE LISTENING AND EMPATHY SKILLS TRAINING IN SCHOOLS, WORK PLACES, AND REQUIREMENT TO RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY, VETERANS AND FOOD STAMPS BENEFITS, (3) NATIONAL AND STATE VIOLENCE PREVENTING CALL NUMBERS AND REPORTING CENTERS.

For too long, our country has experienced violence that could be prevented, except for inaction. When is the next shooting going to take place? My guess is based on the frequency of shootings, at least one mass shooting will occur this week. A mass shooting that could be prevented! Will Congress provide emergency funding to help cure the problem?

Most mass shootings (but not all) are committed by white male citizens between the ages of 16 and 26 that are facing some type of crisis in their lives. There are three areas Congress could provide funding for, that would have an immediate impact: (1) Diagnosing mental and neurological disabilities, (2) Skills training, and (3) Violence prevention call centers. What would this look like?

Mental and neurological disabilities are under diagnosed and can be missed early in age. By increasing our countries capacity to diagnose mental and neurological disabilities, people can receive the services that they need. Comprehensive life skills training can be provided to these people to help lower their risk for committing violence. That is not to say that they are at a higher risk. Life management can be complicated by mental illness. When an "at risk" person is identified in school, workplace or community, immediate intervention and comprehensive services can provided to them. "At risk" people would be immediately removed from school or workplace and provided services to resolve their risk, before they returned.

Most mass shootings occur by a person who has a grievance against the environment the shooting occurs in. The community needs to be educated on reporting people who are "at risk" for violence or have serious grievances against a particular place. Because the community may not know who is "at risk" in a particular case, the only approach to the problem, is to provide mass education. This education would be very specific in providing active listening skills to allow "at risk" persons to air their grievances verbally and not through violence. Empathy skills training is necessary to deter a person from committing violence. Active listening and empathy skills training, needs to occur in every school, work place and as a requirement to receiving benefits such as social security, veterans and food stamp benefits. The training could be completed online and not overly burdensome. This will allow a National approach where every child and adult has access to this training. Why would people who are not "at risk" need training? Clearly, these people would know how to intervene using active listening while communicating empathy for the person and advocating empathy for other people who could be potential victims of violence, and to know call reporting procedures.

We have the ability to call 911, but people may not want to call 911 for a problem they may think is serious, but not imminent. Therefore, it is necessary to have Federal and State call centers with trained staff to handle calls and provide intervention procedures. Similar to emergency dispatcher training, violence prevention center staff, would require approximately four months of training.

To prevent mass shootings and violence, our country must invest in a comprehensive strategy to address the problem. Congress must provide emergency funding to help prevent mass shootings! You can contact your Federal and State Senators and Representatives to advocate for this funding. You can email the Presidential Campaigns to urge them to talk about these solutions and provide emergency funding to bring them to reality.

Let's stand up to violence by working together to advocate for real solutions to end mass shootings and walk in the footsteps of peace rather than the wounds of violence.