phyncke

It is over, it is done. I am home. What a blessed relief.

But something mildly interesting happened today at work. Blog-worthy. I got a call from a media person who had heard about something relative to our department. They were actually calling to interview our Dean who is "big woman on campus" and on committees to do with mental health and all that.

The thing you need to know is that the day after the Virginia Tech thing happened, our department conducted a training on mental health intervention and students. What to do if you spot a student in trouble. The aim of it was really suicide prevention and depression screening. We are to aid and refer students to our mental health center if we see a student that we think is in "trouble". This had been planned months prior and was not a response to the shootings.

They taught us what to look for and how to be sensitive without going over the top with it. Let the student know that you are there to help and yada. We got some national statistics and yes discussion did revolve around the national issue that had come up. How could it not?

Well word got out on campus that we did this and it became a thing...that they want to publicize. I set up an interview for the Dean for next week but then I let the person know that 60-70 people were trained, me included. I was asked to be interviewed right there. I did find the training helpful so I was able to be very positive about it. They gave us good information and a whole bunch of resources that we did need. So I was happy to give my opin on all that.

So I am probably going to be quoted in some new article to do with this. I think it is a campus publication...

So what do you know? Little ole me!

I am debating the dinner thing right now. Do I want eggs and bacon and toast or do I want pasta again? What to do? I know that coffee is in my future.

When this happens...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/16/vtech.shooting/index.html

Rampage at Virginia Tech.
The link goes to the CNN story.

Gah.

First paragraph:
(CNN) -- A lone gunman is dead after officials said he killed at least 21 people and perhaps more Monday during shootings in a dorm and a classroom at Virginia Tech -- the deadliest school attack in U.S. history.

Edit: The count is now up to 31.