For Survivors of Mass Shootings, A Complex Road to Recovery

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The United States has more mass shootings than any other country — and they seem to be getting more violent.

The Oct. 1st country music festival in Las Vegas was the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. According to officials, at least 59 people were killed, over 500 injured and hundreds more traumatized.

Survivors of trauma like mass shootings go through a range of psychological, emotional, and interpersonal effects.

Dr. Carol North, a professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center’s O’Donnell Brain Institute and Metro Care Services in Dallas, says that initially survivors are in shock and disbelief. As days and weeks go by, people may experience interpersonal problems, like distrust and avoidance, and emotional problems, like terror and irritability. As months go by, survivors may even develop serious psychiatric illnesses like PTSD.

But Dr. North, a disaster mental health expert in mass shootings, believes trauma is a complex mental health issue and says sometimes the effects are not always bad. Survivors can feel resilient and develop a new, better, outlook on life. 

Along with Dr. North, The Takeaway hears from Pam Simon, a former staffer to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who survived the mass shooting in Tuscon, Arizona in January 2011. Simon was shot in the chest by gunman Jared Loughner during the "Congress on Your Corner" event hosted by Giffords. A total of six people died, and 13 were wounded. 

This segment is hosted by Todd Zwillich.