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AUSTIN — West Side residents are taking steps to help each other’s mental health after shootings near an Austin preschool.
Staff and children at the West Austin Development Center, 4920 W. Madison St., have been rattled by two shootings just weeks apart, said Tonja Brown, program director at Preschool Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Program, which is based at the center. Some kids said they were too scared to play outside after hearing gunfire, Brown said.
Looking to prevent more violence, neighbors and officials gathered earlier this month, with attendees saying they want to be more proactive — and for people to see the effect violence has on local kids. They’ll meet again Friday to connect neighbors with mental and physical health care resources as part of long-term work to help residents and prevent violence.
“We can’t let these children just see this as something that is normal,” Brown said. “Kids should be outside playing when it’s hot outside, not scared of being shot.”
The shootings happened within a block of the school: A 20-year old woman was killed 10:15 a.m. March 30 in the 4800 block of West Madison Street, and two men were wounded 4:50 p.m April 3 in the 4900 block of West Madison, police said.
Organizers of the first meeting, including Rep. La Shawn Ford and members of local nonviolence groups, encouraged neighbors to seek mental health screenings and therapy to help with trauma.
Friday’s meeting, which is 12:30 p.m. on Zoom, will see organizers connect attendees to mental and physical health care. Ford said it will focus on mental health treatment, giving residents information about signing up for Medicaid so they can receive care.
“We need to make sure people have access to mental health services. It’s absolutely critical,” Ford said.
The Preschool Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Program offers free health services to local children dealing with gun-related trauma. It also has wraparound services for families who need help with housing and applying for government assistance, and it provides trauma-related training for teachers so they can help children with PTSD-related symptoms.
Brown said P3 has about 200 patients and accepts applicants for therapy and other treatments regardless of a person’s age, insurance or ability to pay.
Violence interrupters say prolonged exposure to gun violence can desensitize children to violence, which leads to depression, increased aggression, social withdrawal and other mental health complications.
“It’s hopeful that people recognize their trauma and want help with it,” Ford said. “We’re still working to eliminate the stigma surrounding it.”
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