As an organization that works at the intersection of mental health, public health, and violence prevention, we are obligated to speak on Wednesday’s shooting at Antioch High School. There is not much to say that hasn’t already been said. Unfortunately, we have created a world in which these things need to be repeated anyway.
Since 2021, guns have been the leading cause of death of children in Tennessee. Across the country, the rate at which children are killed by firearms increased sharply, with BIPOC children disproportionately being the victims of gun violence. In part, this reflects worsening youth mental health without a corresponding increase in access to services. But, it also reflects a total disregard for these lives by a state leadership that has pushed for unregulated access to deadly weapons and claimed Tennessee as a sanctuary state for guns.
The irony is clear: right now, as one of our state’s public schools recovers from an attack for which our students desperately need resources, state leadership has called a special session to defund public schools. Last year, a special session sparked by the Covenant School shooting in Nashville became a way for state leadership to push more guns into schools by arming teachers. Public schools have become currency to score political points, rather than spaces focused on the holistic well-being of our students. At Black Mental Health Village, we envision a world where our children have more rights than guns.
We mourn the loss of life – both the young woman who was killed and the young man who took another's life and his own.
As people speculate about the young man’s mental health in a way that demonizes those struggling with mental health challenges, it’s crucial to emphasize that individuals with mental illnesses are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. Instead of perpetuating stigma, we must foster understanding and advocate for mental health support that uplifts and protects vulnerable individuals, especially those in our schools.
At Black Mental Health Village, we offer the following services for those struggling with mental health and violence in their communities: individual & group therapy, youth programming, support groups, yoga, meditation, training and workshops, opportunities to build community, harm reduction resources to promote safety and well-being, and coordination of mental health services based on the needs of our community. We will move forward together – some of us more slowly than others. Justice is refusing to use the names of those who lost their lives in vain. Justice is creating a better world for those who remain.
Sincerely,
Stephen Watts
Youth Safety and Advocacy Manager
Black Mental Health Village
Benaias Esayeas
Co-founder and Executive Director
Black Mental Health Village
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