Contact: Isidro Torres, Executive Director
Email: itorres@namiep.org
Phone: 915-316-5019
El Paso, TX – May 25, 2022 – NAMI El Paso sends our sympathies and condolences to the community of Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers tragically lost their lives yesterday. There is no reason for this senseless loss of life. Our community stands with Uvalde and offers our support along with our state organization, NAMI Texas. We also offer our support to the people of Buffalo, NY, who less than two weeks ago faced a hate crime that was all too familiar.
El Paso knows all too well the impact of mass shootings in our communities. The fear, distress, anger, and countless emotions that we undergo. With each passing tragedy, the public’s confidence in the safety of our schools, grocery stores, and other public spaces is eroded. For any El Pasoan who may need someone to talk to, we encourage reaching out to Emergence Health Network’s 24/7 Crisis Line at (915) 779-1800. Additional resources include the Disaster Distress Helpline 24/7 at 1-800-985-5990 and NAMI Helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) — open Mon-Fri from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.
Mental health programs are severely underfunded in this country, and access to needed care may not be readily available. However, while mental health issues are a problem, they are not the problem with gun violence in America. The American Psychiatric Association has stated that the overwhelming majority of people with mental illness are not violent, and instead are far more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violent crime. We ask that any public officials be guarded in their rhetoric that argues otherwise, as it may further stigmatize and interfere with people accessing needed treatment. Mental illness is not a scapegoat. Mental illness impacts everyone worldwide, yet it is in our country where we see these mass shootings occur again and again. We cannot stand idly by for the next. It is time to look at the root cause and come up with meaningful and sensible solutions to end gun violence.
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For more information on how you can support the communities of Uvalde and Buffalo visit Uvalde Strong Fund and Buffalo Together