Foremost on our hearts and minds is concern and sympathy for the families of those killed in the Virginia Polytechnic Institute tragedy on Monday, April 16. Our prayers and concern are for the many victims and families affected by this tragedy as they mourn loved ones and attempt to cope with the trauma from this day. Our prayers also are with the Virginia Tech campus as it remembers those who died that day and moves forward. Click here to see reflections from the Family Ministry on some comfort that comes from Psalm 55.

As the public learns more about Seung-Hui Cho, the gunman in this tragedy, the media has discussed many social concerns – concerns over gun control and how to help an individual who is deeply troubled but who doesn’t pursue or respond to mental health treatment and cannot be mandated to receive mental health treatment as an adult.

The Church of the Brethren has a ministry dedicated to mental health concerns – Voice: A Mental Illness Ministry. This ministry of the Association of Brethren Caregivers has provided many resources about mental illness and ways that congregations can respond with hope and love to those experiencing mental illness. As public discourse continues, as it should following this event, Voice Ministry seeks to provide some resources about mental illness for our congregations.

Webcast on Mental Illness Now Available!
Church of the Brethren member and psychologist John Wenger talks about mental illness and the Virginia Tech tragedy in a series of short webcasts, which are available here. These short posts provide some information about mental illness, treatment, violence, stigma and ways churches can respond to those in their midst who are living with mental illness. (Special thanks to Enten Eller at Bethany Theological Seminary for making these webcasts possible.)

On-Line Resources

• One of the best resources comes from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a national nonprofit that calls itself “the Nation’s Voice on Mental Illness” and advocates for people experiencing severe mental illnesses.
• NAMI -- Response to the Virginia Tech Tragedy
• Pathways2 Promise -- an ecumenical website talking about mental illness and the church.
• Understanding Mental Illness After the Virginia Tech Tragedy -- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Coping with Trauma
Equally helpful are the many links to coping tools for those who are impacted by the violence at Virginia Tech. Family Ministry of ABC has gathered the following resources for coping with trauma.

• Tips for College and University Students: Managing Your Distress in the Aftermath of the Virginia Tech Shootings
• Coping with Traumatic Events
• Support and Resources for Coping with Traumatic Events from Virginia Tech
  
• Trauma, Helping Your Child Cope, a brochure from the Church of the Brethren Disaster Child Care. Printed copies of the brochure are available from the Disaster Child Care office.

Worship Resources
For devotional and worship resources on the tragedy at Virginia Tech, visit the website for Good Shepherd Church of the Brethren of Blacksburg, Va. Marilyn Lerch, pastor of the Good Shepherd congregation also serves as part-time chaplain at Virginia Tech. The resources connected to the Good Shepherd congregation have been created and used by those connected with the Good Shepherd congregation.