Dallas County Medical Center has hosted a number of mental health events since the shooting at the Mad Butcher in Fordyce and plans to continue providing support.
FORDYCE, Ark. — Following Friday’s mass shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, mental health experts are offering tips and services to help those who may have been affected by the tragic incident.
“We just want to hear from our community members after they went through the traumatic experience that we all had on Friday,” said Leslie Ford, behavioral health director at Dallas County Medical Center.
She works less than a mile from where the shooting happened and said she has held several community events since last Friday’s tragedy to make sure people are safe.
“We have several local religious leaders in town, as well as several licensed counselors from our community and a little outside of the area, who have come in to help, meet with people and listen to their stories,” Ford explained.
She added that mental health services shouldn’t be overlooked after an incident like a mass shooting, even for people who don’t think they need them.
“You may feel like you’re OK, but after losing a loved one or experiencing a traumatic experience, it can be hard to move on in the weeks following,” she explained.
If you don’t want to seek professional help, you can find other ways to cope, such as talking to loved ones, but there may come a time when you need to consider other options.
“If you’ve lost a loved one and you’re grieving for such a long period of time that you don’t know how to move forward, those are symptoms and signs that you may need to seek professional help,” Ford says, “and we’re here for you.”
Above all, Ford stressed that while mental health-specific events can’t always be held like they have been in recent days, her office is able to host them.
“We’re always available,” Ford said. “We’re just a phone call away.”
If you are looking for help or someone to talk to, please contact Dallas County Medical Center at (870) 352-6300.
