Hundreds of people witnessed a mass shooting in Rochester’s Maplewood Park last week that left five people injured and two dead, but the trauma did not end there.
In the wake of gun violence, we are forced to confront what we have seen, heard and experienced.
Hundreds of people began fleeing when gunshots rang out at a community barbecue on July 28, interrupting an otherwise joyous day. Some stopped to help the injured, becoming untrained first responders. Others, safe in their homes, were brought to the scene of violence by videos circulating on social media last week.
The trauma is still having an impact, as the shooters are still at large.
More:“They don’t deserve your silence.” Investigations into the Maplewood Park massacre continue
“Dozens of people were there when Tyasia (Manning) and Phylicia (Council) were killed,” Dr. Shirley Greene, commissioner of the city’s Department of Recreation and Human Services, said Monday. “All of these people will never be the same again, and it’s all because of the violent and selfish choices of other people.”
Available mental health services following the Maplewood Park shooting
The City of Rochester is offering mental health support to anyone affected by the Maplewood Park shooting. Free, no-appointment counseling is available this week at the following locations:
- Tuesday, August 6, 5-7 p.m.: Edgerton R-Center, 41 Backus St.
- Wednesday, August 7, 5-7 p.m.: Carter R-Center, 500 Carter St.
- Thursday, August 8, 5-7 p.m.: Thomas P Ryan R-Center, 530 Webster Ave.
Trained therapists will be on site to provide short-term support to individuals and connect them with long-term resources if needed. More sessions will likely be announced soon, and people who cannot make the evening hours should call 585-428-6630 for assistance, Greene said.
Help from the city’s crisis team is available 24 hours a day by calling 211 or 988.
Mayor Malik Evans urged people to take advantage of these resources, acknowledging that seeking mental health support is sometimes stigmatized in the black community.
“This is something that’s never really been done in Rochester before. We’ve told the entire community: If you’re feeling impacted, come to a location and talk to somebody,” Evans said. “Let’s at least make a connection. Let’s at least have a conversation about it. We think the mental health component is very, very important.”
What are the symptoms of psychological trauma when witnessing a shooting?
Dr. April Aycock, director of mental health services in Monroe County, said the trauma will manifest itself differently for each individual affected by the shooting.
Some withdraw into themselves and avoid the subject. Many feel heartbroken and suddenly burst into tears. Others see memories of the shooting in the middle of the night and wake up with anxious thoughts.
Whatever your symptoms, the most important thing is to understand that you are not alone. There are places that can help you heal.
Part of that healing took place last week in the form of community gatherings at Parcel 5 and Maplewood Park.
Evans said part of that effort is to ensure gun violence is not normalized in Rochester.
“You can’t go back to your normal life as if nothing had happened,” he said.
“We have someone in a park who went there to have a barbecue or to push his child on the swing set, but was then confronted with gunfire,” he added. “The consequences of this are far-reaching.”
— Kayla Canne covers public safety for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on police accountability, government surveillance and the impact of violence on individuals. Follow her on Twitter at @kaylacanne and on Instagram at @bykaylacanne. Contact her at [email protected].