RESOLUTION NO. 240215
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Sponsor: Councilmember Melissa Patterson-Hazley
RESOLUTION - Recognizing the mental health and traumatic impacts of events such as mass shootings; promoting the use of mental health resources for City employees and City Council staff, such as the Employee Assistance Program; encouraging employers, organizations and local schools to promote mental health resources; and encouraging every resident to monitor their own mental health and that of their loved ones.
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WHEREAS, the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII; and
WHEREAS, on February 14, 2024, an estimated 1 million people attended a celebratory parade and rally to celebrate the victory; and
WHEREAS, numerous residents and visitors alike had their joy disrupted and experienced a violent and traumatic event during a mass shooting that occurred at the end of the rally presentation; and
WHEREAS, fear of mass shootings has left a large majority of Americans feeling stressed; and
WHEREAS, experts state that the frequency of mass shootings, amplified by media coverage of such events, amounts to levels of exposure that is harmful to mental health, even for those who were not in attendance; and
WHEREAS, studies have documented increases in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorder, and other conditions among people who have survived a mass shooting; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes the importance of mental health and mental health assistance, especially after recent events; and
WHEREAS, mass shooting survivors now include an unknown number of City employees, members of the City Council and their families, as well as countless residents; and
WHEREAS, mental health issues can have a negative effect on all aspects of one's life, including work, study, relationships, responsibilities and even one's physical health;...
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