Amy Forsyth-Stephens, MSW, Executive Director
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Transcript of Amy Forsyth-Stephens, MSW, Executive Director
Tragedy at Virginia Tech: A Rural Health Outreach
Program’s Role in Immediate and Long-
Term Disaster Recovery Amy Forsyth-Stephens, MSW, Executive Director
Mental Health Association of the New River Valley, Inc.
Presented at:
Health Resources and Services AdministrationAll-Programs Meeting
August 27, 2007Washington, D.C.
April 16, 2007
A violent day - extremely windy, unseasonably cold, a grey Monday, and Income Tax Day
One day changes everything
The nation had experienced an “earthquake to our souls” and Blacksburg, Virginia was at the epicenter.
4-16-07 was a pure mental health disaster Health and safety needs put to
rest quickly Mental health impact extreme, due to
various unique factors
Largely rural community, which means…
Volunteer fire and rescue Everyday people
experiencing the unthinkable
Close knit community—people’s stories traveled quickly
Also adding to the psychological impact:
The extremely violent nature of the incident.
Cho’s pre-planning and precise execution of the killings.
Cho was a community and campus member- this was not inflicted from the “outside.”
Extreme re-traumatization caused by Cho’s manifesto two days later.
Overview of the Mental Health Association
of the New River Valley
Largest MHA Chapter in Virginia Located blocks from VT campus Leader in pre- and
post-booking jail diversion programs
Operate a free, mental
health clinic for the low-
income uninsured
Rural Health Outreach Program:
ARMS Reach: Access to Rural Mental Health Services
ARMS Breaking Down Barriers
Transportation Stigma Cost Cultural factors
A pilot site for a 2003 NMHA project: Blueprint for Responding to Public Mental Health Needs in Times of Crisis
Conducted extensive local disaster mental health planning in 2003-04
Executed drills, signed MOAs, established roles and protocols
Response Phases
Phase I: Immediate (first 4 days)
Phase II: Through student re-entry to campus on Monday and Tuesday, April 23-24th
Phase III: Through VT graduation, May 12th
Phase IV: Up to one-year anniversary
Phase I On site at Inn at Virginia Tech (disaster
headquarters)Families gathered, responders deployed
and decompressed Coordination with other providers
Cook Counseling Center of VTRed CrossPublic MH agency (New River
Valley Community Services)
We divided up the immediate work
FAMILIES AND RESPONDERS
COMMUNITY AT LARGEVT FACULTY AND STUDENTS
Convocation on April 17th An uplifting, healing event on TV President chanting “Let’s Go Hokies” In stands, many had difficulty:
Uncontrollable sobbing Heart palpitations Shortness of breath Freezing up, numb Fainting
CHAT
Our Mental Health Association created the Center for Community Healing After Tragedy (CHAT)
High Impact Groups identified and listed on “master plan”
Tier One Groups
Victim’s families Injured individuals and their families Front line responders in Norris and AJ Highly affected VT Departments, faculty
and staff
Tier Two Groups
Second line responders not in Norris Hall or AJ dorm (perimeter workers)
Survivors and witnesses VT building facilities workers Postal workers Roommates and floor mates of Cho and victims Resident Advisors
Tier Two Groups, cont.
Cho’s instructors High profile VT administrators Responders’ families—spouses and children Family liaisons assigned to victims’
families by VT Korean community, on campus and community-
at-large, including school children
Tier Three Groups
VT student body at large VT faculty at large VT staff at large (those with
and without benefits)
Hospital staff (4 hospitals involved)
Funeral home staff Medical Examiner Office staff
Tier Three Groups, cont.
Red Cross workers Clean-up crews at AJ and Norris Archivists Staff at the Inn at Virginia Tech Non-dominant populations, on and off campus Front line mental health responders Mental health and legal professionals
involved in Cho’s past
Tier Four Groups Marching Virginians Corps of Cadets GLBTQ community Local media people Campus chaplains Community Clergy Fragile Elderly Those with existing PTSD or past gun violence Current mental health consumers School teachers and guidance counselors Private schools and home-schoolers
Tier Five Groups
VT alumni Employers and landlords
of victims
Blacksburg “townies” who resent students
People with ties to Blacksburg
PHASE II
Assisted with one of the nation’s largest deployments of mental health professionals in history
Headquartered at VT’s Lane Stadium press box
Local mental health professionals enlisted to help
Lane Stadium Press Box
Began Holding “Grief Gatherings”
Mental Health Command Center Moved to Local CSB Facility Operates crisis hotline, and
received many distress calls; deployed DMH responders (“hotshots”)
DMH responders were deployed to all natural gatherings of mourners or those involved in the tragedy
DMH responders deployed to drill field 24/7
PHASE III
VT Graduation Weekend, May 11-12th28 different eventsVictims’ families housed togetherStudents, families, alumni returning for the
first time after the shootingMedia returns!
Phase IV
Mental Health Community moves from Honeymoon Phase to Disillusionment Phase:
Facing the task ahead. Tendency to retreat into silos. Budget implications and anxieties sink in.
“Helping Us Help You” Event
Held June 11, 2007
Purpose: To identify community mental health priorities now and in the future
Outcomes: Specific interventions created by and for the local community
Money Issues
So much giving, so little money.Battles begin between the funds.Territoriality regarding grants.
“Recovery is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”
We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness.... We will prevail....
-- Nikki Giovanni, University Distinguished Professor, poet, activist
Images of Healing
Squires Student Center