Online platform 'MassViolence.Help' created with USDOJ Office for Victims of Crime funding

The National Mass Violence Center, based at the Medical University of South Carolina and funded by the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, is pleased to announce the launch of the Virtual Resiliency Center at MassViolence.Help. 

Developed by MUSC experts and researchers, the Virtual Resiliency Center is a first-of-its kind website that centralizes evidence-based resources to help victims, survivors and communities affected by mass violence. It also offers customizable pages online for communities to disseminate credible information after a mass violence incident.

 

“When an mass violence incident occurs, the news media and local officials are almost always the immediate, main sources of information,” said Daniel W. Smith, Ph.D., director of Technology and Resources at the National Mass Violence Center. 

“But when the incident is over, communities must work through the aftermath and begin the recovery process. Many communities establish in-person resiliency centers to serve as the focal point for providing victim services and critical resources, and for gaining access to personal and mental health support services. These centers take the lead in community response efforts, support, communication, memorials and healing.”

Resiliency Centers are very effective, but they take coordination and funding to establish – and most importantly, they take time. “That’s where the Virtual Resiliency Center at MassViolence.Help fits in to meet critical needs between the occurrence of an mass violence incident and the establishment of a brick-and-mortar resiliency center,” Smith said. The new site is accessible for free and is online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Virtual Resiliency Center at MassViolence.Help features four sections:

• Victim & Social Services
• Social Connection & Empowerment
• Health & Wellness
• Managing Grief & Trauma

Each section includes easy-to-understand, credible information; videos of survivors and expert service providers sharing their insights; and links to other reliable sources of information for further exploration. The Virtual Resiliency Center addresses topics such as victim rights, social support and relationships after mass violence, stress management, grief and trauma reactions, and managing substance use after an mass violence incident.

Additionally, the National Mass Violence Center team can quickly coordinate with officials after a mass violence incident to create a community-specific resource page associated with the Virtual Resiliency Center at MassViolence.Help website. This function will allow communities to guide affected victims and survivors to existing Virtual Resiliency Center resources and to share community-specific information relevant to their mass violence crime. This tool offers communities the framework for sharing credible information and consistent messaging.

“The Virtual Resiliency Center was created with communities in mind,” Smith explained. “We are able to partner with U.S. communities affected by mass violence to help them disseminate accurate and timely information after an mass violence incident. The VRC at MassViolence.help provides customizable pages to local leaders that they can tailor and share with their local communities, until they have the time and capacity to develop and launch their own website.”

Survivors of mass violence incidents often experience a confusing and unexpected feelings while they seek emotional and physical recovery. They may receive an overwhelming amount of information during the short- and long-term recovery process. 

“While most people are well-intentioned with their advice, it’s important that those already suffering from physical and mental health trauma after an MVI are offered evidence-based strategies for coping and recovering,” said Dean Kilpatrick, Ph.D., NMVC Director and MUSC Distinguished University Professor. “The VRC at MassViolence.helpoffers survivors anywhere in the world a free, trustworthy resource outlining specific methods proven to help the recovery process.”

The National Mass Violence Center is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime and is based in the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center in the MUSC Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. National Mass Violence Center experts prepare communities across the country for mass violence emergencies and assist with response, recovery and resilience efforts in the aftermath of mass violence incidents.