TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – In the wake of the Old West End Fest shooting that injured 12 people in Toledo, survivors are still trying to process what happened.
This week, mental health professionals are setting up in the community to help. These sessions hosted by the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Lucas County will be going on all week at the Kent Branch Library.
Tina Gionis said the realization sets in every day that she was in a mass shooting.
“I don’t know I’m just trying to process it and I’m having a tough time doing so,” said Gionis, who grew up in the Old West End.
Gionis was at this year’s festival with her family when shots rang out.
“We were just enjoying the festival and all of a sudden we heard gunshots and it was like time froze,” she said.
The shooting has been on her mind since the incident. On Tuesday, she went to the Kent Branch Library in Toledo, where the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Lucas County has a booth set up at specific times all week to offer support in response to the shooting.
The booth gives survivors an opportunity to talk to professionals and connect them with resources such as crisis care and emotional support lines that are open 24/7.
“We know that events like this can cause a collective trauma and people are concerned about their safety moving forward and how can they attend events like this when a tragedy like this happens, so we are hearing people still shaken up,” a representative said. “We are constantly battling stigma that after events like this people you know should just be strong, hold their head up high, pull themselves up by their bootstraps but we know that that’s not how trauma impacts people and that people do need help and there is help out there,” said Elijah Jones, director of programs and services.
Gionis said she believes taking that step and opening up is the best way for community members to move forward.
“Just talking and not feeling isolated. I’m glad there are people here who are offering that, and I think again you know it’s all a part of the community being together and not isolating because I think that would just make it worse,” she said.
The Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Lucas County will have representatives at the Kent Branch Library at the following times:
Monday, June 8: 1-3:30 p.m.Tuesday, June 9: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.Thursday, June 11: 2:30-6:30 p.m.Friday, June 12: 1:30-4 p.m.Saturday, June 13: Noon-2 p.m.
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