The Altadena Library District is extremely saddened and angered by the mass shootings in nearby Monterey Park, Oakland, and Half Moon Bay, Calif., over the past few days. We send our deepest condolences to all affected by these terrible, violent acts and mourn the senseless loss of lives. We also stand in solidarity with members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and extend our support and partnership to our local AAPI organizations in the wake of these tragedies.
Resources
For those who would like to honor the Monterey Park victims, the city is hosting vigil at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24 at Monterey Park City Hall (320 W. Newmark Avenue). The city also has established the Survivors Resource Center, which provides mental health resources for anyone in the community. The Resource Center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is located at Monterey Park’s Langley Senior Center (400 W. Emerson Avenue).
And anyone struggling with fear, confusion, or distress can access counseling resources through the national Disaster Distress Helpline 24/7. You can call or text 1-800-985-5990 for yourself or on behalf of a loved one. If someone is having a mental health crisis, call the nationwide mental health crisis hotline at 988.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the American Psychology Association have developed resources to help families and communities navigate what they see and hear, acknowledge their emotions, and find ways to cope with mass shootings. Explore some of these resources at https://www.wspapsych.org/mass_shootings_-_coping_resour.php and at https://www.apa.org/topics/gun-violence-crime/mass-shooting-resources.
We must end gun violence. You can learn more about the efforts of government agencies and community organizations — and perhaps find a way to help — at the California Department of Justice Gun Violence Prevention website (https://www.oag.ca.gov/ogvp/resource-gun-prevention).