Counseling can save your life.

Our latest US tragedy was a murder-suicide held at an elementary school in San Bernardino, California. The suspect, estranged husband of 53-year old Karen Smith — a teacher at the elementary school — entered the facility on April 10, 2017 and began opening fire inside a classroom killing Mrs. Smith and an 8-year-old boy.

What took place after that was complete distraught. There were breaking news stories on nearly every news channel and in the minds of many viewing Americans: another school shooting that could have probably been prevented with the right help.

If the North Park Elementary tragedy is not enough to convince you that professional counseling should be more accessible to our society, I urge you to take a look at recent school and work-related tragedies.

On December 3, 2016, San Bernardino endured it’s first tragedy when three suspects entered a holiday party in the Inland Regional Center and initiated a mass shooting, killing 14 and injuring 10 employees.

In a world where depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep deprivation, stress and physical illness all compile within societal issues, working toward a solution is crucial. One-on-one counseling is a frightening idea to some, yet an extremely valuable practice when used frequently and unpretentiously. It’s a resource that is absolutely achievable in most occupations, which can prevent several ongoing issues in the home, work or other environments.

We as a society tend to think we’re alone in most cases, when in reality, we’re not. Hundreds, thousands, and millions of people have all gone through what we’re going through. Just one simple act of kindness can make a difference. Asking someone how they’re doing or a genuine approach at sincere communication is key to social interaction. If the other person is compelled to respond, you can acquire precious information that only exists between you and that person at that moment.

Related posts:

One of the first things I researched when I was first diagnosed with cancer in 2004 was diet. It made intuitive sense to me that what you put into your body might affect your ability to fight off…