Response to Virginia Tech Tragedy--April 2007
We at the NDSU Counseling Center-Disability Services wish to express our sincere sorrow and sympathy for the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA following the tragic events on their campus.
Following a traumatic event such as this, even one that happened on the
other side of the country, each of us may experience some variation of a
stress reaction. The response to such an overwhelming event is normal;
and the response may be mild, moderate, or severe. Generally, these symptoms will abate with time. We encourage each of you to take care of yourself in the next few days and weeks as we get more detailed information about what happened at Virginia Tech. In particular, please:
- Talk with others whom you trust about your reactions
- Eat well, exercise, and rest as well as you can;
- Limit the amount of media coverage you watch if you feel flooded or overwhelmed by the news;
- Recognize that your reactions are normal and that the
symptoms will improve with time.
As always, support is available for NDSU students who may feel the need
to process their reactions with someone. Confidential counseling is
available at the Counseling Center at 212 Ceres Hall, 231-7671.
For faculty and staff, the Employee Assistance Program is available to
provide support. You can arrange an appointment by calling 1-800-627-8220.
We would also like to highlight the following additional resouces which may be usefull at this time:
Recovering From Grief and Trauma
Tips For Faculty and Staff: Facilitating Discussion Following a Crisis (TX State University)
Tips For Parents on Coping With Trauma (Southern Methodist Universtiy)