“I don’t think that there’s any way to move forward easily,” Montague said. Hanson, a professor who specializes in trauma treatment at the Medical University of South Carolina, said it’s “OK to feel scared and anxious and uncertain.” People just need to know when to seek medical help. They urged people to reach out to the center. “Just because we’re having to be physically distant doesn’t mean we have to be socially disconnected,” said Benita Thornhill, the center’s licensed behavioral health therapist.Įxperts were still worried how the anniversary would affect everyone. There is no more walk-in foot traffic.Īs the one-year mark approached, the center rolled out programs for coping with trauma anniversaries in a remote workplace - hoping to help people understand and normalize their feelings. The reduction was expected, as everyone who seeks their help must now track them down online. They used that same creativity to adapt it to a virtual world, she said.īut activity at the center has significantly dropped since February when 394 people used its services. The center itself was developed in uncharted waters, with no real example to model it after. Rosanne Foggin, the manager of the center, said the transition wasn’t especially difficult for her staff. In response to the lasting physical, mental and emotional trauma from the mass shooting, Sentara has partnered with the city to create the VB Strong Center, a space dedicated to providing community recovery and resiliency. The center, which the city expects to get long-term funding from a federal grant, now offers roughly 60 services - from art therapy to one-on-one sessions.Ī giant VB Strong flag waves nearby as people gather for the ribbon cutting of the VB Strong facility in Virginia Beach on Tuesday, Oct. Much of that has now become centralized at the VB Strong Center, which is managed and run by Sentara. An ad-hoc network of help also sprung up quickly. Right after the tragedy, Virginia Beach brought in different counselors and therapists for employees. Some people have started using Zoom calls to stay close to each other, but that option isn’t the same as the group being together, she said. The virus brought to a halt all of the pop-up gatherings at the Municipal Center or area parks that were happening, as well as the spontaneous get-togethers and happy hours that are a natural part of office life, Sutton said. #Uncharted waters online map driver#Even working in silence next to a few colleagues makes him feel a little better.Įmployees feeling disconnected from each other has been a big issue the past two months, said Erin Sutton, the city’s director of emergency management and a key driver of the city’s recovery efforts. Katz)īodnar, who was out last May during the shooting, said his team still has regular meetings in the office, bringing a temporary respite from the loneliness. CJ Bodnar explains the Stormwater Engineering Center's efforts to mitigate flooding in Virginia Beach on Thursday, January 16, 2020.
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