FAC T S H E E T F O R P R O V I D E R S

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) is part of the Uniformed Services University’s Department of Psychiatry

Psychosocial Concerns after Las Vegas Shootings
Tips for Health Care Providers
Health care providers assume many roles in the midstof disasters: caregiver, leader, comforter, andinformation source. The Las Vegas mass shootings
resulted in mass death and injury on an extraordinary
scale. Although the shooting event is over, its aftermath
will be felt throughout the country for considerable time
to come.
As health care providers mobilize to help, they should

be mindful of the common reactions experienced by thepopulation they will assist. Interviewing with sensitivity isessential, and is the ﬁrst step in assessing speciﬁc needs.
This fact sheet provides information for health careproviders after mass shootings and pays special attention
to some of the issues for individuals providing support in
the aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting event.

Individuals exposed to mass shootings often experiencea range of behavioral and psychological reactions,including distress reactions, health risk behaviors, andpsychiatric disorders. Distress reactions include insomnia,
irritability and scapegoating. Sense of safety is diminishedand perception of threat is increased. Health risk behaviors
include increased use of alcohol and tobacco to manage
distressing feelings, as well as restriction of activities, socialisolation, as well as over-dedication leading to lack of selfcare. A smaller percentage of exposed individuals will
experience psychiatric disorders.
Many healthcare providers will encounter patients who
have been effected by the mass shootings in Las Vegas andhave an opportunity to provide interventions that reduce
distress reactions and enhance health-promoting
behaviors.
Psychological ﬁrst aid, an evidenced-informed approachfor helping populations cope in the aftermath of a disaster,aims to reduce the emotional and physical responses in theimmediate aftermath of a disaster.

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Promote connectedness (help to reunite families andfriends, establish a sense of normalcy for children by
reinforcing parent-child bond, reuniting children withplaymates, and re-establishing, if possible, school andother safe environments)■

Promote self-efﬁcacy (give practical suggestions andreferrals that move people to help themselves)■

Promote hope (direct people to services that areavailable, remind people (if you know) that moreassistance will be arriving) .

Principles include:■

Promotion of safety (help people meet the basic needs
for shelter and food, provide a ‘recovery environment’toinclude limited exposure to news and other media
related to the disaster, encourage people who feel unsafe
to travel with others in pairs or groups)■

Promote calm (offer accurate information about thedisaster and the efforts underway to help the situation)

Many of those who have experienced the shootings,
either directly or through a friend or loved one, will
experience grief over the events as well the loss of safety. It is
helpful to listen as people share their grief. Remind people
that experiences such as difﬁculty sleeping, disbelief,nightmares, sadness, and anxiety are common. In mostindividuals, these symptoms remit over time and require noformal treatment. A small subset will continue to have
difﬁculties and may present with depression, increased
arguments with signiﬁcant others, difficulties at work,
unexplained medical symptoms, and increased use ofcigarettes and alcohol. This may indicate a need for moreformalized assessment and intervention.
Providers must be aware of the impact of the disaster onthemselves and their professional colleagues. High demands
and the desire to “do more” put providers at risk for burnout
and reduced effectiveness. Providers sustain effectiveness by
also being mindful and attentive to their own needs.

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
Tel: 301-295-2470 | Fax: 301-319-6965
www.CSTSonline.org