>> ALL RIGHT, VERY COMPELLING STORIES THERE, THANK YOU.

>>> WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION AND LOOK AT THE HIDDEN SCARS OF VIOLENCE, THE TOLL OF LIVING UNDER THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE HAS ON MENTAL HEALTH.

EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE IS TRAUMATIC FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED AND CAN CAUSE LONGTERM DAMAGE LEADING TO DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SLEEP AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS AND EVEN SUICIDE.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE DIFFICULT ISSUES ARE CAPTAIN VOLTA AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO, DONALD TYLER, PSYCHOLOGIST AND DIRECTOR AT THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION ORGANIZATION THAT WE JUST SAW.

AND ALEXA JAMES, CEO OF NOMY CHICAGO, PART OF THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

TYLER, I WILL START WITH YOU.

LISTENING TO THE STORIES OF THE YOUNG MEN, TELL US ABOUT THE TOLL THE VIOLENCE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED CAN TAKE ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> YOU CAN SEE FROM LISTENING TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY THAT GUN VIOLENCE HAS HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THEM EMOTIONALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY .

THE DIFFICULTY BEGINS WITH MOST YOUNG MEN EARLY IN LIFE, AND YOUNG WOMEN TOO.

WHERE THEY HAVE DISADVANTAGES FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD ON.

THE GUN VIOLENCE BEGINS AND WHEN THEY ARE EXPOSED TO THAT IT COMPOUNDS THE AMOUNT OF CHRONIC STRESS AND TRAUMA THAT THEY EXPERIENCE.

PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE IN THE PROGRAM HAS SEVERAL LOVED ONES WHO HAVE DIED FROM GUN VIOLENCE.

MOST OF THEM HAVE WITNESSED NUMEROUS SHOOTINGS AND KILLINGS.

AND MOST OF THEM HAVE SHOT AND KILLED OTHERS WHICH IS A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE AND A HEAVY LOAD THEY BEAR.

>> IT WOULD SEAM TO BE THAT THE TRAUMA REQUIRES A SPECIAL APPROACH.

SO WHAT IS THE BEST APPROACH WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH KIDS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE A BEREAVED CITY.

IF YOU THINK OF THE 315 HOMICIDES THAT OCCURRED AS OF JULY 8th IN THE CITY, EVERY HOMICIDE VICTIM LEAVES BEHIND 7 TO 10 FAMILY MEMBERS OR CLOSE FRIENDS IMPACTED BY THE LOSS.

SO JUST IN THIS YEAR WE HAVE 2200 BEREAVED CHICAGOENS.

WE KNOW WHAT WORKS IS COMMUNITY BASED ACCESSIBLE BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE THAT ADDRESSES THE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS TO ACCESS, INSURANCE, PROVIDED REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS, LEGAL STATUS.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS THAT IMPEDE ACCESS TO SERVICES.

WE KNOW WE NEED MORE SERVICES IN THE CITY.

WE HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTERS THAT NEED TO BE REOPENED BY THE CITY TO ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS AND INCREASE ACCESS FOR THE BEREAVED.

>> I'M STRUCK BY ONE OF THE YOUNG MEN SAYING HE HAS LEARNED TO REGULATE HIS EMOTIONS BETTER.

IS A LOT OF THIS BUILT UP ANGER THAT YOUNG PEOPLE, WHEN THEY EXPERIENCE THIS, OR WHEN THEY ARE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS IN A HEALTHY WAY?

>> SURE, BUT YOU WOULD BE TOO, RIGHT?

>> YES, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

>> IT IS FEELING DISENFRANCHISED AND FEELING UNSAFE TO STEP OUTSIDE, UNSAFE TO LET YOUR KIDS PLAY OUTSIDE.

THE FEELING THAT YOU LACK FREEDOM IN A PLACE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE OWNERSHIP, I THINK CREATES A STRESS AND ANXIETY.

ALSO THE YOUNG MAN SPOKE ABOUT NOT BEING HOPEFUL.

YOU DON'T THINK YOU WILL GET TO A CERTAIN AGE BECAUSE OF THE STATISTICS THAT ARE FLOODING YOUR COMMUNITIES.

THERE IS ALSO A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IMPACTING YOU.

WHAT THAT DOES TO YOUR BODY IS REALLY REDUCE OVERALL HEALTH.

SO ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE IS IMPORTANT BUT MAKING SURE YOU HAVE ACCESS TO GENERAL HEALTHCARE.

SO PEOPLE CAN TREAT CHRONIC DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, THAT STRESS IN YOUR BODY.

>> AND YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE OUT THERE DEALING WITH SOME OF THESE YOUNG FOLKS.

I'M SURE THAT YOU HAVE MET FOLKS THAT PERHAPS LOST THEIR LIVES.

HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WHEN YOU ARE IN THIS SITUATION EVERY DAY?

>> WELL, IT IS DEFINITELY DIFFICULT AT TIMES.

WE ARE SO COMMITTED TO THIS MISSION.

WE ARE MOVING FOWARD TO TRY TO SAVE AS MANY LIVES AS WE CAN.

WE HAVE TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OURSELVES TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK.

WE HAVE LOST MORE THAN 30 YOUNG PEOPLE SINCE WE STARTED IN 2016.

MOST OF THEM WERE KILLED BY GUN VIOLENCE, SOME OF THEM DIED FROM ACCIDENTS, SOME DRUG OVERDOSES.

SO TO DO THIS WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPOSED TO CONSTANT SEVERE THREATS TO THEIR LIVES ON A DAILY BASIS IS DIFFICULT WORK.

YOU DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS AND TO LOSE THEM IS TRAUMATIC FOR US AS WELL.

WE DO OUR BEST TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES.

WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH THAT BUT WE ARE PUSHING FORWARD.

>> AND KATHERINE VOLTA, YOU DID A STUDY ON VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORKERS AND HOW THEIR MENTAL HEALTH IS.

CAN YOU TELL US IT RESULTS OF THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

REPRESENTATIVE VADDER MENTIONED SOME OF THOSE AT THE TABLE.

I DID AN IN DEPTH STUDY OF INTERVIEWING WORKERS AND THE STRESS THEY EXPERIENCE.

WE DISCOVERED THAT NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA BURDEN COMING INTO THE WORK, WE ARE SENDING THEM RIGHT BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES AND CONTEXT IN WHICH THE TRAUMA WAS CREATED.

THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO TAKE CARE OF FRONT LINE WORKERS WHO ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO SAVE A LIFE IN THE CITY.

WE DON'T WANT TO BURN THEM OUT.

WE DON'T WANT TO RUIN A LIFE WHILE SOMEONE IS TRYING TO SAVE A LIFE.

>> ALEXA JAMES, SPEAKING OF FRONT LINE WORKERS, YOU HAVE WORKED WITH POLICE OFFICERS.

LET'S NOT FORGET THAT WHEN THEY ARE IN THE LINE OF FIRE, THERE IS TRAUMA THEY EXPERIENCE.

HOW IS THAT PROGRAM GOING?

WHAT SHOULD THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THE STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH AMONG POLICE OFFICERS?

>> YOU LOOK AT BEST PRACTICE WITH ANYTHING, TALKING ABOUT FRONT LINE WORKERS, THEY HAVE TO GAIN A LOT OF SELF CARE SO THEY CAN DE-ESCALATE THEMSELVES.

YOU DON'T WANT AN OFFICER THAT IS TENSE WALKING IN TO DE-ESCALATE A SITUATION.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR VALUES ALIGN WITH THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION.

THAT HAS GOTTEN COMPLICATED FOR A LOT OF FIRST RESPONDERS.

THEY DON'T FEEL THEIR VALUES ALIBE WITH THE AGENCIES AND THAT CAN MAKE THEIR WELLNESS SEEM LESS OF A PRIORITY FOR FOR EXAMPLE.

IT IS CRITICAL THAT ALL OF US WHO ARE HEALERS IN THE CITY HAVE SELF INSIGHT AND REGULATION AS WELL.

WE ARE HELPING OTHERS TO YOUR POINT AND WE WILL BECOME A SICKER CITY IF WE DO THAT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I BROUGHT UCH IS THERE ARE SO MANY FOLKS THAT THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE IS ANY HOPE FOR THEM OR ANY LIGHT.

HOW DO YOU COUNSEL THEM THROUGH THAT WHEN IT CAN BE TOUGH OUT THERE, IT IS TOUGH TO SORT OF CLING TO ANY HOPE THAT THINGS WILL CHANGE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND HELPING THEM DEVELOP HOPE IS REALLY THE FIRST THING THAT WE NEED TO ESTABLISH.

WE HAVE SO MANY MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK FOR US THAT USED TO BE IN THEIR SHOES, RIGHT?

WHO USED TO BE INVOLVED WITH GANGS AND VIOLENCE IN THE EARLIER DAYS OF THEIR LIVES AND THEY HAVE SINCE CHANGED AND BECOME AMBASSADORS OF PEACE.

SO THEY ARE LIVING EXAMPLES THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN.

WE ALSO WORK ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO ESTABLISH NONAGGRESSION AND PEACE AGREEMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU ESTABLISH THE AGREEMENTS, THEY GET TO EXPERIENCE A PERIOD OF RESPITE FROM THE ONGOING VIOLENCE IN TERMS OF THE PARTICULAR GROUPS.

>> DO THOSE AGREEMENTS TYPICALLY HOLD?

>> WELL, IT IS A PROCESS TO MAINTAIN THEM BUT ABSOLUTELY.

SOMETIMES THEY DON'T BUT WE WORK TO REESTABLISH THEM.

>> THERE ARE CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE HAVE SEEN RESULTS, WHERE VIOLENCE HAS COME DOWN AND THERE ARE ACTIVE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS GOING ON.

WHAT CAN THE WHOLE CITY LEARN FROM THAT?

>> INTERVENTION IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE SAFETY ECOLOGY OF THE CITY.

IT IS NOT EITHER THIS OR EITHER THAT.

THEY MUST BE ENGAGED.

THEY WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER STEAK HOLDERS LIKE OUR PREVIOUS GUESTS AND THEY CAN COEXIST AND COLLABORATE WITH LAW