09/28/2026
When communities face tragedy, trained volunteers are there to listen, support, and help people begin to heal.
At a recent Virginia Behavioral Health (VBH) MRC Statewide Unit meeting, MRC volunteers who were deployed to the shooting at Old Dominion University shared their experiences providing emotional support to students and faculty. Drawing on skills learned through VBH and the Virginia Crisis and Response Team (VCART) training, volunteers used active listening, empathy, and validation to help those affected navigate a difficult time.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of self-care, reflection, and peer support for responders. Thank you to these volunteers for sharing their experiences and helping strengthen behavioral health preparedness across Virginia. https://www.aspr.gov/readiness-response/healthcare-readiness/healthcare-readiness-action/meet-our-mrc-network/mrc-lessons-learned-odu-tragedy