MNPD Counselors Offering Critical Incident Debriefings for Persons Impacted by Jefferson Street Gunfire Last Saturday

Counselors in the Nashville Police Department's Family Intervention Program are offering critical incident debriefings for anyone in the vicinity of the Jefferson Street gunfire that killed one person and wounded nine others last Saturday evening.

After a traumatic incident, persons who were witnesses to it or were nearby may experience a wide range of normal reactions to abnormal events, including:

Physical Reactions:

• Aches and pains like headaches, backaches, stomach aches
• Changes in sleep patterns and appetite
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Easily startled by noises or unexpected touch
• More susceptible to colds and illnesses
• Increased use of alcohol or drugs and/or overeating

Emotional Reactions:

• Shock and disbelief
• Fear and/or anxiety
• Grief, disorientation, denial
• Hyper-alertness or hyper-vigilance
• Irritability, restlessness, outbursts of anger or rage
• Emotional swings -- like crying and then laughing
• Worrying or ruminating -- intrusive thoughts of the trauma
• Nightmares
• Flashbacks
• Feelings of helplessness, panic

Anyone in the community who was on or near Jefferson Street last Saturday evening who would to take part in a debriefing is asked to contact Family Intervention Program counselors by email at [email protected], or by telephone at 615-862-7773.