Following Wednesday's shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, many organizations have offered mental health support for people struggling with the trauma and grief. WLRN has compiled a list of resources and will periodically update this collection.
Counseling services will be available "to anyone, especially students and families" at the following sites:
• Pines Trails Park Recreation Center and Amphitheater, 10555 Trails End, Parkland, FL 33076
• Coral Springs Gymnasium, 2501 Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33065
• Coral Springs Center for Performing Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33065
• Westglades Middle School, 11000 Holmberg Rd, Parkland, FL 33076
Staff members from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School may also receive counseling at the Parkland Library, 6620 N. University Drive, Parkland, FL 33067.
Florida Blue is offering free grief counseling in English and Spanish for all members of the community via its toll-free help line: 1- 800-843-6514. Specially-trained behavioral health counselors are also available in person at the Florida Blue Center at Sawgrass Mills, located at 1970 Sawgrass Mills Circle, Sunrise, FL 33323. Both the help line and the in-person counseling services are free and available to affected individuals whether or not they are Florida Blue members. The toll-free help line is available 24 hours.
Professionals United for Parkland is a group of volunteer, licensed mental health and medical professionals offering pro-bono services. The referral hotline, (443) 390-8343, is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has opened the Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, to the Parkland community. The hotline “connects callers to trained and caring professionals from the closest crisis counseling center in the nationwide network of centers. The Helpline staff will provide confidential counseling, referrals and other needed support services.”
The University of Miami is offering free, individual Grief and Coping sessions at the UHealth Sylvester location in Deerfield Beach (1190 E. Newport Center Drive, Suite 100, Deerfield Beach). You can make an appointment with a mental health professional by calling (954) 571-0111 and selecting Option 3.
Caitie Switalski and Sammy Mack contributed to this list. This list was updated on Feb. 21 with additional resources.
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