The five year anniversary of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting on the Strip has come and gone. But the memory of what happened didn’t end just because news coverage of the anniversary is over.
The horrors of that shooting remain in the minds of survivors and their loved ones. And that can be life changing and debilitating.
Dan Ficalora is a therapist who specializes in trauma, and has worked closely with survivors of the shooting.
“It’s different for different folks,” he said of his patients’ recovery. But survivors still seek him out.
“Anniversary like this comes around, there are new people that realize that they're not okay, or that they're experiencing symptoms of trauma or depression or anxiety or addiction, and they come seeking services now that they're realizing that they need help,” he said.
Ficalora said seeking treatment later on after a trauma, rather than seeking help immediately, could lead to it getting worse.
“Over time, without treatment, those triggers might generalize to you just being uncomfortable around people at all, or any type of noise, or loud sounds could be triggering to you and cause severe anxiety.”
However, there’s still a stigma on mental health. It’s gotten better, he said, noting how events like 1 October and the COVID-19 pandemic led to more openness.
“But there are those that still remain and have that same stigma, and some cultural groups that have a big aversion to seeking mental health care,” he said.
He said the shooting affected everyone who lived in the city or had connections to Las Vegas. “Vicarious trauma is real,” he said, noting how people can be affected by images they’re overexposed or immersed in.
There is also a greater need for mental health professionals in Las Vegas. As of early 2021, the national average is 45 counselors per 100,000 people. In Nevada, it's 10 counselors per 100,000 people.
“It is no secret that Nevada in general, in Southern Nevada, has a great deficit in good mental health care and access to professionals,” Ficalora said. “Since [1 October], our community has been focused on getting people trained, and getting people focused on trauma-informed care, which is not something that was even really part of the conversation five years ago.”
For more information on Ficalora or to seek help, visit Bridge Counseling Associates.
Dan Ficalora, clinical director, Bridge Counseling Associates
