On behalf of the Disaster Response Committee, we would like to share some information about our work over the past couple of years. Although IPA had a Disaster Response Coordinator in the past, that position had been vacant for several years prior to the formation of this committee in January 2022. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, it highlighted the need for a committee dedicated to supporting IPA members and the Iowa public in times of crisis or disaster.

Since January 2022, we have worked to establish the scope and goals of the committee and explored how we can best serve IPA. We identified free training resources and encouraged members to obtain training in Psychological First Aid. For psychologists who are able to take a more active disaster response role, we provided information on volunteering with the Red Cross in the area of disaster mental health. The Red Cross continues to have a crucial need for volunteers who are licensed mental health providers.

In 2023, we sponsored two events to provide members with unique opportunities to learn more about psychological aspects of various types of disasters. The DRC co-sponsored the training, The Minds, Lives, and Motivations of Mass Shooters, in January 2023. We also organized the Katrina Babies film screening and discussion in February 2023.

Due to the small size of our committee, we have narrowed our scope to focusing on supporting IPA members in the event of a disaster through the following:

• Continue to review and update the Disaster Resources Page on IPA’s website. These resources are accessible by members as well as the public.
• We are available to organize and host Zoom support calls for IPA members affected by a disaster-related event.
• We will continue to communicate disaster mental health training and volunteer opportunities as we become aware of them.

We are not always immediately aware of disaster-related events or of response efforts initiated by other organizations. If you become aware of a significant disaster-related event or of a need for support, please let us know by emailing Ashley Freeman (afreeman0530@gmail.com). For example, IPA collaborated with NASW Iowa to develop a list of local therapists after the Perry school shooting in January to help facilitate therapy access for survivors and their families.

As the Perry community continues to heal after the January 2024 school shooting, information is available about coping after a mass shooting, resources for parents and teachers, and gun violence prevention.

If you are interested in getting involved or learning more about the Disaster Response Committee, please contact Ashley Freeman (afreeman0530@gmail.com).

Sincerely,

IPA Disaster Response Committee

Dr. Ashley Freeman – Committee Chair
Dr. Sarah Fetter – Committee Member
Dr. Emily Thomas – Committee Member
Dr. Valerie Keffala – Committee Member
Tess Filip – Student Committee Member
Dr. LeAnn Waterhouse – Ancillary Committee Member

As you may be aware, June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month. More specifically, the ninth annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day will take place on June 2nd, 2023.

The first annual Gun Violence Awareness Day took place in June 2015 on what would have been the 18th birthday of Hadiya Pendleton, a Chicago teenager who was mistakenly shot and killed on a playground on January 21, 2013. After her death, friends and family began the movement to wear orange to raise awareness of gun violence. The color is now used as a symbol of anti-gun violence around the country.

Wear Orange has expanded to a period of three days each year: National Gun Violence Awareness Day (the first Friday in June) and Wear Orange Weekend (the accompanying weekend). This year, Wear Orange Weekend will take place June 2-4, 2023.

As this day approaches, we’d like to highlight the importance of gun violence prevention as it relates to the rising suicide rates in our country. In 2021, 54% of all gun-related deaths in the U.S. were suicides, the highest percentage since 2001. Data from 2021 also shows a 23% increase in total gun deaths since 2019 (Pew Research Center). In Iowa, 79% of gun deaths are suicides and 17% are homicides. (Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund).

“Research shows that across all suicide attempts without a gun, 4% result in death. But when a gun is involved, that figure skyrockets to 90%….Given the unique lethality of firearms as a means of suicide, addressing gun suicide is an essential element of any strategy to reduce gun violence in this country” (Everytown For Gun Safety Support Fund).

As suicide-related deaths (as well as other acts of gun violence) are on the rise, we wanted to inform you of an upcoming opportunity to get involved. There are a few events taking place in Iowa on June 3, 2023 through Moms Demand Action, a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures to protect people from gun violence:

1. Iowa City: Johnson County – Farmers Market Tabling Wear Orange: “Stop by our Wear Orange table at the Iowa City Farmer’s Market! We’ll have kids coloring pages and a fun photo booth so you can take a picture to elevate National Gun Violence Awareness Day and #WearOrange weekend on social media.”
2. Cedar Falls: Cedar Valley – Wear Orange (10am): “Join us at this family-friendly community event where we honor lives taken by gun violence and stand in solidarity with survivors.”
3. Des Moines – Wear Orange Creative Visions block party (12pm): “It’s a block party! Creative Visions is hosting a block party to honor gun violence survivors. Let’s show our support and help out with this event!”

Related Articles and Resources:

1. Gun Violence Prevention (American Psychological Association).
2. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. (Pew Research Center).
3. Gun Violence in Iowa (Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund).
4. Beyond Measure: Gun Violence Trauma (Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund): “The trauma of gun violence is immeasurable. This study focuses on trauma from gun violence by listening to the voices and experiences of those directly impacted.”
5. Gun Violence Survivors in America (Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund): “This survey explores the breadth of gun violence in America and how it impacts survivors.”
6. Gun Suicide (Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund).

Sincerely,
The Disaster Response Committee