Grieving, Coping, and Healing in the Wake of Tragedy: Where To Find Help If You Need It and Provide Support If You Can

Last week’s mass murder in Lewiston claimed the lives of eighteen Mainers and injured thirteen more, three of whom are still in critical condition.

The impact of this tragedy has been devastating for the victims and their families, as well as for the Lewiston and Maine communities more broadly.

As everyone statewide embarks upon the long road toward healing, there are a number of resources available to those who are in need of emotional support.

Direct and practical support has also been made available for victims and their families, as well as for those who were present during the mass shooting but not physically injured.

See below for a detailed listing of all the resources available to victims and their families, as well as to all those who are grieving and healing right now.

Following that, there is also information on multiple ways to donate — if you are able — to the victims and families who are in need of financial support in the wake of last week’s tragedy.

Healing Together Digital Resource Center

Sponsored by the State of Maine, the Healing Together web page aggregates resources available to victims, their families, the community at large.

It also provides information on a number of ways to provide financial support to victims and their families.

Click Here to Visit the Healing Together Webpage

Dedicated Resource for Victims and Their Families

A Family Assistance Center (FAC) has been set up at the Lewiston Amory — located at 65 Central Avenue in Lewiston — to serve as a central space for victims and their loved ones to receive the support they need.

Also welcomed at the FAC are those who were present at the time of the shootings but not physically injured.

The FAC will be open daily from 10am to 7pm “for an adequate period of time to allow access for all victims.”

Click Here for More Information on the FAC

Resources for All Those Grieving and Healing

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (Maine DHHS) has organized a central web page with mental health resources for all those affected by last Wednesday’s tragedy.

Below is a summary of the Maine DHHS’ suggested resources:

For Help Coping With a Traumatic Event —

• Incidents of Mass Violence — US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US SAMHSA)
• Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event – US Centers for Disease Control (US CDC)
• Tips for Coping with Stress — US CDC

For Kids, Families, and Caregivers —

• Talking to Children About Gun Violence — Maine Department of Education (MDOE)
• Help Young Children Feel Safe and Cope With Grief — From the Makers of Sesame Street
• Multilingual Trauma Resources — Child Mind Institute
• Building Resilience in Children — HealthyChildren.org
• Resources Compiled by Maine Pediatricians — Maine Chapter of the Academy of Pediatrics

Those Affected By Substance Abuse

• Connect with a local liaison from Overdose Prevention Through Intensive Outreach, Naloxone and Safety (OPTIONS)

Help Coping With Stress

• Call (207) 221-8198 from 8am to 8pm seven days a week for stress management and resiliency resources

Those Experiencing Mental Health Conditions

• Adults 18 and older can call 866-771-9276 to reach the Intentional Peer Support Warmline to speak with trained staff who have lived experience with mental health conditions

Click Here to Visit the Maine DHHS Behavioral Health Resource Webpage

Crisis Hotlines for All Those Struggling

The Maine DHHS has also provided a concise list of crisis hotline phone numbers for those who are in need of immediate support.

Call or text 988 to reach the suicide and behavioral health hotline, which is staffed twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by trained crisis specialists. Help is also available via online chat at https://988lifeline.org/. Information for the deaf or hard of hearing is available here.

Teens and young adults seeking help can text (207) 515-8398 to reach the National Alliance on Mental Illness Teen Text Line which is staffed daily from noon until 10pm.

Clinicians, educators and first responders can call 1-800-769-9819 between 8am and 8pm to speak with the FrontLine WarmLine to receive support in managing the stress associated with responding to disaster situations.

Those in need of general information concerning access to mental or behavioral health resources can call 211 twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Information is also available at https://211maine.org/.

Click Here to Visit the Maine DHHS Crisis Hotline Webpage

How to Donate in Support of Victims and Their Families

Several fundraisers have been organized to provide financial support to the families of those who were killed, as well as to those who were injured.

A dedicated page on GoFundMe aggregates all verified fundraisers related to the Lewiston mass shooting that have been organized on the platform.

In addition to those that have been set up to directly support individual victims and families, Victims First — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support to victims of mass casualty crimes — has also organized a fundraiser on the platform.

Click Here to See All Verified GoFundMe Fundraisers in Support of Lewiston Mass Shooting Victims and Their Families

The Maine Community Foundation — a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization — has established the Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund “to address current and emerging needs associated with this tragedy.”

Click Here to Visit the Webpage for the Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund

The City of Lewiston has set up a donation portal for the Families and Victims Fund to all “neighbors near and far to support the families and victims” of last week’s mass shooting.

Cash donations to the fund are also currently being accepted at any Androscoggin Bank location.

Checks can be mailed to Androscoggin Savings Bank, City of Lewiston Support Fund, PO Box 1407, Lewiston, ME 04243-1407.

Click Here to Visit the OneLewiston Donation Portal