Division for Emotional and Behavioral Health (DEBH) Statement on Recent Mass Shooting at Robb Elementary School

The executive board and members of the Council for Exceptional Children, Division for Emotional and Behavioral Health (DEBH) are heartbroken as we grapple with the continued epidemic of gun violence in the U.S., particularly as we are again horrified by the loss of children’s lives, and in the wake of the past month’s shootings in Buffalo, NY, Laguna Woods, CA, Tulsa, OK, and Uvalde, TX. These massacres cannot be considered “the new normal.” As an organization committed to promoting the social-emotional and behavioral well-being of all children and youth, DEBH joins the entire country in our outrage that our nation has not committed itself to ending such tragedy and horror. Our thoughts are especially with those directly impacted by these events - the survivors, family members, and communities who will undoubtedly need support in the months and years to come. We hope too that these thoughts and outrage can spur us all to collectively take action to reduce gun violence.

DEBH is a strong proponent of efforts to prevent gun violence through increased research, access to mental health services, and funds for training more educators, school psychologists and other school mental health professionals. But we also stress that, while popular and political reactions in the aftermath of mass shootings sometimes focus on mental illness as a causal factor, these notions of mental illness reflect stereotypes and misunderstandings. It is important to recognize that mental illness itself does not predispose a person to commit a mass shooting. Similarly, students identified with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders are at no greater risk of these forms of extreme violence than their peers. It is critical that professionals maintain and increase their efforts to provide services and supports, but that mental illness does not become even further stigmatized. 

We clearly and firmly believe that the following steps are key to mitigating the epidemic of gun violence: 

• Passage of sensible gun laws, which are supported by a majority of Americans. 
• Increased research on gun violence, which was hampered by what amounted to a ban on federal funding for such work for nearly two decades prior to 2020. 
• Improved training in and widespread use of threat assessment. 
• Improved mental health interventions and support for all students.

There are no words to adequately convey the deep sadness and sorrow and overwhelming shock at the recent, incomprehensible loss of life of 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX. This and other recent mass shootings are a reminder of the devastating consequences of our collective failure to act. Our sincere hope is that this latest tragedy makes clear that the time is now for all of us - elected leaders, professionals, and citizens alike - to act on concrete steps that address the public health crisis of gun violence in our society.