The mass-shooting that took place early Easter Sunday in the East Allegheny neighborhood of the Northside has been and will continue to be a triggering and traumatic event for the greater Pittsburgh area. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) is a reliable source for information, resources and welcoming spaces where community members can gather and support one another.
The following information and resources may be of help during this difficult time:
CLP Library Locations
CLP has resources that can be used by the community, including meeting room space, access to computers, printers, copiers, WIFI and art supplies. Sharing stories and having conversations about the books we read can help us understand the world around us. Librarians at every CLP location are here to help with book suggestions for all ages.
Our regularly scheduled Teen Times and other daily programming will continue with an understanding that patrons may not be engaged or may need something else from the Library. We will listen and hold space and understand that trauma responses look different for different people and in different communities.
Trauma Resources
“When most people hear about trauma, they picture hospitals and doctors–but not all wounds are visible. Thanks to our committed allies and donors, we’ve been educating and raising awareness about psychological trauma for decades: how a single event can impact your entire life, how your body and mind respond to the ongoing stress, how your very genetics can change as a result.”
JFCS is known as a leader in providing innovative and effective social service solutions to problems facing families and individuals of all ages and walks of life. Services are provided and referrals are made without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, familial status, age, handicap or disability.
Steel Smiling bridges the gap between community members and mental health support through education, advocacy and awareness. We share conversations with community members, servant leaders, and mental health professionals to inform human-centered and informal interventions. We visit community members, listen to their stories, and share triumphant photographic narratives to reduce stigma and raise awareness. We facilitate conversations that inform how community leaders and practitioners approach mental health.
RESOLVE Crisis Services (Always available at 888-796-8226)
Resolve is a 24-hour, 365-day crisis service. It’s free to all residents of Allegheny County, regardless of your ability to pay. Both Allegheny County and UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital sponsor our services.
Our 150-member crisis team provides:
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- Crisis counseling and support.
- Referrals.
- Intervention services for adults, teens, and their loved ones.
You do not need a psychiatric diagnosis to seek help from resolve. We offer many services that do not depend on a formal diagnosis, and we help many people who have never had a psychiatric diagnosis.
UpStreet is a teen mental health service that offers free counseling to anyone from ages 12-22. This teen mental wellness program offers drop-in consultations with therapists, scheduled therapy appointments, text-based peer support, and support groups for teens. UpStreet’s services are currently accessed using the chat bot located at the bottom of its website. (This is a resource of the Pittsburgh-based organization Jewish Family & Community Services).
Talking About Traumatic and Violent Events with Youth
It can feel overwhelming to talk to children and teens about traumatic events. Here are some resources by local and national agencies to help frame those conversations, while providing for the care of the child/teen and you:
Additional Resources
Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late. With Safe2Say Something, it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies.
You Are Not Alone: Teen Mental Health Resources from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Hi friends, how are you? We are living in an uncertain and scary time right now. I am sharing some resources that could be helpful if you are feeling sad, scared, alone, depressed, overwhelmed – whatever you are feeling, you do not have to go through it alone. These resources are geared towards teenagers but could be helpful to folks of any age.