Multiple Fatalities Reported After Texas High School Shooting – Mental Health Coping Tips

At least eight people -- and as many as 10 -- have died as a result of a shooting Friday morning at a high school in the southeastern Texas city of Santa Fe. An armed person walked into an art class at the school and began firing what looked like a shotgun. This is the third school shooting in eight days, and the 22nd since the beginning of the year in the United States.

Coping Tips

Talk about it - Ask for support from people who care about you and who will listen to your concerns. Receiving support and care can be comforting and reassuring. It often helps to speak with others who have shared your experience so you do not feel so different or alone.

Turn it off and take a break - You may want to keep informed, but try to limit the amount of news you take in whether it’s from the Internet, television, newspapers or magazines. While getting the news informs you, being overexposed to it can actually increase your stress. The images can be very powerful in reawakening your feeling of distress.

Take care of yourself - Engage in healthy behaviors to enhance your ability to cope with excessive stress. Eat well-balanced meals, get plenty of rest and build physical activity into your day. Avoid alcohol and drugs because they can suppress your feelings.

Featured Guest: Mark Lewis has three words for new grads seeking advice on how to find success: Give a damn! While it may be an untraditional suggestion, he says it gets to the heart of what real success is. “Being self-centered is not only dangerous, it’s a one-way ticket to failure, violence, and bad relationships. He’s the author of “Give a Damn: Individually We Make a Difference, Collectively We Change.”