Get Help Now

If you are in immediate danger or having thoughts of harming yourself, call 911. For self-help resources click here.

CRISIS COUNSELING

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - This helpline provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will be routed to the closest crisis center based on your area code. Local counselors have access to community mental health resources and can provide referrals.

  • Dial 988; 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-799-4889); TTY: 1-800-799-4889

  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline also has chat available, 24 hours a day. Chat now.


Disaster Distress Helpline - Multilingual, crisis support service providing 24/7 counseling for anyone experiencing significant emotional distress related to disasters including mass violence incidents. In addition to English, Spanish, and ASL, over 100 languages can be supported via 3rd-party interpreters.

  • Call or text: 1-800-985-5990

  • Español: Llama o envía un mensaje de texto 1-800-985-5990 presiona “2.”
  • For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL Callers: Call 1-800-985-5990 from your videophone. ASL Support is available 24/7

Survivors of Mass Violence Support Group

Peer support for survivors of mass violence in the United States including mass shootings, terrorist attacks, or other large-scale community violence. DDH-trained Peer Supporters are available to listen to members and provide validation and encouragement. They also provide structured moderation to engage members in meaningful discussions on relevant topics and provide timely and trusted resources.

Survivors of Mass Violence Support Group (Facebook)

VICTIM ASSISTANCE

Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) - This federal organization is dedicated to supporting crime victims across the U.S. by providing information about victims’ rights and local support services.


National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards - Find your state’s crime victim compensation program.


Victim Assistance Professionals (VAPs) are individuals who receive specific training to support victims of crime. They play an important role for victims, survivors, witnesses, and others who are affected by mass violence. VAPs can assist in a variety of different ways, including:

  • Offering emotional support to those affected

  • Providing information about survivors’ rights

  • Assisting victims in obtaining financial and practical assistance that they are entitled to

  • Assistance with completing paperwork for victims’ compensation or other benefits

  • Serving as a liaison between victims, families, and law enforcement agencies

  • Helping to determine what victims and surviving family members may need

  • Facilitating effective media relations, if necessary

***To find a VAP in your state, explore the resources in the map below. You may be able to find additional victim services by entering the name of the county or city where the crime took place into a search engine, along with the words "victim assistance." College students can also search for a victim assistance program at their home institution.


Victim Connect Resource Center - This center offers a referral helpline where crime victims can learn about their rights and options confidentially by phone or online chat with Victim Assistance Specialists. Support services are available 8:30AM – 7:30PM EST.

  • 1-855-4VICTIM (1-855-484-2846)

  • Online chat: To chat with someone now, click here


Tribal Resource Tool - Provides crime victim information and services specific to American Indians and Alaska Natives.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Victim Compensation

If you have been a victim of crime, you might qualify for financial assistance. Crime victim compensation is funded primarily by fees, fines, and assessments paid by convicted criminals and provides financial assistance to crime victims and their families.

Crime victim compensation is a “payer of last resort,” which means that crime victim compensation funds can be used to offset the cost of services that other funding sources – like insurance companies – do not cover. Specific types of coverage vary from state to state, but crime victim compensation may be available to pay for:

  • Medical care

  • Mental health treatment

  • Funeral costs

  • Lost wages

  • Crime scene clean up

  • Costs associated with travel to receive treatment

  • Moving expenses

  • Housekeeping and child care

Every state has a victim compensation program that provides financial support for victims of crimes. Use the map below to find the victim compensation program for the state in which the crime occurred.


Victim Connect Resource Center - This center offers a referral helpline where crime victims can learn about their rights and options confidentially by phone or online chat with Victim Assistance Specialists. Support services are available 8:30AM – 7:30PM EST.

  • 1-855-4VICTIM (1-855-484-2846)

  • Online chat: To chat with someone now, click here


The National Compassion Fund - This site collects and distributes donations made to victims of mass crimes.


211 - A comprehensive source of local human and social services in the U.S. and Canada. This service connects people to help of all kinds, including assistance with housing, utilities, food, employment, and healthcare. Visit the 211 website or speak with a service professional by dialing “211.”

LEGAL ASSISTANCE

Office for Victims of Crime - This federal organization provides a list of legal services clinics that assist crime victims.


National Crime Victim Law Institute - Find local organizations that provide legal information and support directly to victims of crime.


National Crime Victim Bar Association - Victims looking for an attorney referral can submit a request form at the National Crime Victim Bar Association website.


Victim Law - Searchable database of victims’ rights and legal provisions.


Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - For information about rights for victims of federal crimes and the investigation into your case.


State Attorney General's Office - Victims of mass violence are eligible for protection and resources through the Attorney General's Office in the state where the crime occurred. This information can be found in the map below.


Notification Systems:

  • Victim Notification System (VNS) - This free, computer-based system provides important information to victims of federal crimes regarding events pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. This information is available in English and Spanish on the Internet and through a toll-free telephone number (1-866-DOJ-4YOU).

  • VINELink - This service provides victims of federal and state crimes with timely and reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders.

FIND A THERAPIST

You don’t have to navigate the recovery process alone! Finding the right therapist or counselor can make a big difference in your path to recovery.

What is therapy?

Do I need therapy?

When should I seek therapy?

What should I look for in a therapist?

How can I find a therapist in my area?

What are Evidence-Based Treatments and Evidence-Based Practices?

Several terms are used interchangeably, and often inaccurately, to describe a mental health treatment as being effective. You’ve probably heard ‘evidence-based practice’ or ‘empirically supported treatment,’ for example. Sometimes these terms are used interchangeably, but it turns out they are not synonymous, which can make it quite confusing.

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How to Identify an Experienced Trauma-Focused Therapist

In the aftermath of a mass violence incident, communities are often inundated with offers of help and support. This will include individuals who define themselves as trauma “experts” in delivering therapy or counseling to MVI victims. This Tip Sheet offers specific questions victims/ survivors can ask to help determine whether a mental health provider has the requisite knowledge and skills to deliver trauma-focused mental health interventions.

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Trauma-Focused Treatments Versus Trauma-Informed Resiliency

Reactions to mass violence are wide ranging in both symptoms and severity. Almost all survivors will experience distress in the immediate aftermath of a mass violence incident. It is important that each survivor has access to the best interventions that will support their unique, individual journey to recovery in a manner that is culturally- and age-appropriate. This Tip Sheet explores the differences between Trauma-Focused Treatments and Trauma-Informed Resiliency.

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Victim Assistance Resource Map

Use this map to find victim assistance services in the state where the crime occurred (which may be different than the state where you live)

***You may be able to find additional victim services by entering the name of the county or city where the crime took place into a search engine, along with the words "victim assistance." College students can also search for a victim assistance program at their home institution.

Notice of Federal Funding and Federal Disclaimer