DAYTON — A week of gun violence has raised concerns about safety in Dayton.
NEWS CENTER 7’s Mike Campbell spoke with experts about how victims, survivors and the community can move forward now.
Dayton has seen six shootings in five days, leaving two dead and 17 injured.
“It’s exhausting when people pick these big events when there’s always something going on,” Malquil Palmer said.
Palmer said large groups of people, like the one on Home Street before the deadly shooting, should not be targets of gunfire.
But it happens.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Cathy Platoni said the effects of a mass shooting are both immediate and long-term.
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“Your sleep may be disrupted, your mood may be depressed and you may feel unsafe in your environment,” Platoni said.
She said experiencing and watching reports of multiple shootings firsthand can be traumatic.
Platoni said that we can’t control the world, but we can control how we respond.
She said seeking support and talking about what happened helps because it brings emotions out in some way.
“Physically, or out of anger, resentment, helplessness and hopelessness,” she said.
Platoni said having situational awareness helps to regain a sense of control.
“You have to be careful wherever you go,” she said.
Platoni suggested moderating the time you spend on social media and making sure you spend time with friends.
