Article archive / August 1, 2015
Originally published: . Volume 6, No. 8. Source pages: 1, 3.
On July 23, a man with a history of mental illness opened fire on movie-goers at the Grand 16 Theatre in Lafayette. Fifty-nine year old John Houser wounded 11 people and killed two beloved members of the community, Jillian Johnson, 33, of Lafayette, and Mayci Breaux, 21, of Franklin.
“Of course, no one expects something tragic like this to occur in their hometown whether it be a large, urban city or smaller rural town,” said Dr. Glenn Ally, Lafayette medical psychologist at Acadian Area Human Services District and the Cancer Center of Acadiana. “To say that this is shocking to the community is really a gross understatement, …”
“It is truly a tragedy in all aspects of the word,” he said. “As a human being and as a citizen of this community one cannot help but feel an overwhelming sense of vulnerability when one considers, ‘There but for the grace of God go I.’ This theatre is one frequented by many in the community on any given day. Ordinary citizens from every walk of life taking a break from their routine for a couple of hours of entertainment…”
Dr. John Simoneaux, clinical and forensic psychologist from the Alexandria area, and steering member of the Louisiana Coalition for Violence Prevention said, “When considering this incident from a mental health perspective, several issues came to mind. First, as has been the case in other shootings around the country similar to this, there was a significant mental health component involved in the alleged shooter's background.”
“This alleged perpetrator had been involved with the mental health system for some time,” Simoneaux said, “and at one point in time had had an involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. This perpetrator was not some misguided teenager. He was a 59 year old adult and college educated. He had a law degree though I believe never practiced law. He had engaged in violent behavior before as well. Even after his psychiatric hospitalization, reports of his subsequent behavior are strongly suspicious for continued psychiatric difficulties.”
The Coalition has looked at some of the issues in the mental health system. Cindy Nardini, Licensed Professional Counselor, also of the Alexandria area, and also steering member, said, “While it seems like the occurrence of these acts of violence are more frequent, they continue to shock and puzzle us. As mental health providers we have the humbling opportunity to help bring about positive change.”
She noted that there are many ways to be involved in helping stop violence. “Because of this opportunity, it is of vital importance that we keep abreast of the latest research,” she said. “One of the components of the Louisiana Coalition for Violence Prevention is to provide training for mental health providers. In doing so, positive change is more likely,” she said.
Dr. Mkay Bonner, Industrial- Organizational psychologist from Monroe, also in the Coalition, wondered if people could be better trained to deal with the new level of violence that seems to be part of the culture. She said, “It likely would not prevent tragedies like this but fewer people might be injured or die if they had been taught some options of what to do,” she said. “The basics are what we know in psychology – get ready to run–flight, hide–freeze, or fight–which may be as simple as throwing your drink, your purse, or whatever you can get your hands on. Also the new motto of ‘See Something, Say Something’ is good.”
“In a free society, we will not prevent all of these. But, there are things we can do to keep ourselves safer,” she said. “I think most people need more training on personal safety – in their workplaces, shopping, at church. Having a plan and training can make a difference.”
The mental health response after the tragedy was swift in the close- knit south Louisiana community.
“The Acadiana Area Human Services District, our community mental health center,” said Dr. Allly, has made counseling services available to those who were involved in this tragic situation. In the immediate aftermath there have been vigils and other gatherings to support the victims and those who may have been impacted by this senseless act,” he said.
Dr. Hung-Chu Lin, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, told the Times, “The Lafayette Consolidated Government has opened a Family Information Center to provide information and emotional support to the community,” she explained. “The Counseling and Testing Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette also has been offering services to help students, faculty, and staff members affected by the event, move through the grief and trauma.”
The Louisiana Psychological Association established a service network. “Upon hearing about the tragedy in Lafayette,” said the association’s President, Dr. Lacey Seymour, “the members of the Executive Council immediately began discussions regarding what we could do as an association to help the members of the community during this difficult time.” The group identified practitioners who were willing and able to provide counseling services to those affected by the tragedy.
“Since the shooting,” Dr. Lin said, “there have been numerous vigils and prayer services held every day. People continue to visit the apparel store Parish Ink and the boutique Red Arrow Workshop in downtown Lafayette to commemorate and remember one of the victims, Jillian Johnson, and show support to her family. Many previously scheduled cultural events had been transformed into vigils in the wake of the shooting,” Lin said.
Dr. Allly said, “Patients in my own practice spent much of their visits discussing this brutal killing and the loss of two very beautiful and vibrant women in our community. Allowing time for these patients to ventilate their utter shock, frustration, anger, and sense of vulnerability was important.”
Dr. Lin said, “As a developmental psychologist, I am concerned about how this event will affect the school aged children here, as the Grand 16 Theatre was a fun place to many children. Children are not in school right now, so, mental health resources at school won’t reach children right in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Children rely on how parents talk to them about this tragic event and how the media conveys the messages. So far, the media has been handling the event in a very careful and professional way; there have not been publicized graphic images or terrifying messages on the media.”
“The community as a whole has been showing loving care to those grieving as well as unyielding bravery and resolution to stand strong and persevere,” Dr. Lin said. “Children are watching; they learn from adults. They know they can go to someone when they need to talk about their feelings, and they also know that they can become others’ support. Lafayette is doing a great job educating our children as they go through this difficult time.”
“As was seen in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing,” Dr. Ally noted, “so too in Lafayette, signs of "Lafayette Strong" can be seen throughout the city. As with many other American cities, Lafayette is a wonderful city comprised of a very resilient people and surrounded by a very loving, caring and proud Acadian people. We will mourn our loss. We will celebrate the lives lost. We will survive and more, we will thrive.”
Dr. Lin said, “Lafayette stands strong even though the tragic shooting shook us to the core. This is the Cajun land, the heart of Acadiana, a very loving community; families and friends come closely together to wrestle with grieve. Everyone feels each other’s pain and reaches out to anyone who is in need. No one allows such a barbaric atrocity to take away our Joie de Vie.”
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