Watertown Community Support Gathering on May 30 for Residents Struggling with Recent Traumatic Events

Riverside Trauma Center has teamed up with the Watertown Health Department to provide a supportive gathering for Watertown residents who are still struggling with their feelings and reactions to the Boston Marathon bombings and the events that followed. The event will offer an opportunity for people to share their experiences and reactions in a safe, supportive, and respectful space. The gathering will be held on Thursday, May 30 from 7‐8:30 pm in the Community Room at the Watertown Police Department at 552 Main Street in Watertown, MA.

Riverside Trauma Center, a service of the nonprofit organization Riverside Community Care, helps people recover from overwhelming stress caused by traumatic events through community outreach, consultation, and counseling. Riverside Trauma Center, located in Needham, MA, has been involved with the trauma response to the Boston Marathon bombings and the events that followed since mid‐April. “Events of mass violence, such as the Marathon bombings, can trigger overwhelming feelings of anxiety, anger, and fear,” said Cheryl Bartlett, Department of Public Health Acting Commissioner. “These emotions are completely normal, and may last weeks and even months beyond the event. The Department of Public Health has worked with the Department of Mental Health and the Boston Public Health Commission to identify important resources such as Riverside to help those in need as we begin a long‐term recovery.”

While it has now been several weeks since the traumatic events, some people continue to struggle with their reactions. This facilitated discussion will be guided by mental health clinicians and will help attendees find ways to talk about what happened, share their own reactions, and identify healthy coping strategies that they can use to move forward.

For questions about the event, please contact Jenny Huynh at jhuynh@riversidecc.org or call her at 781‐433‐0672, ext. 5738.