The Safe Community Coalition firmly condemns racism, intolerance, and injustice. We stand with those who are speaking out against the systemic racism that has marginalized and oppressed black people in the United States. 

Many of us have experienced recent feelings of anger, anxiety, fear, and helplessness that can have a huge impact on mental health. Make sure you take time to look inward and take care of your own mental health and that of those you care about. 

If you need to talk with someone, text HOME to 741741 to speak to a crisis counselor with Crisis Text Line or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Or contact PRS CrisisLink by texting CONNECT to 85511. Help is just a text or phone call away. 

In the words of our friends at Active Minds (activeminds.org), “an emotionally healthy world is not possible without a just world.”  While working to change our world, make sure to take time for your mental health. 

• Resources for education for parents and educators at Common Sense Media: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/common-sense-media-resources-about-race-and-racism
• Resources from the American Psychological Association on discrimination and coping: https://www.apa.org/topics/discrimination
• Local resources from Fairfax County: https://research.fairfaxcounty.gov/adult/fight-racism and https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/community-services-board/publications/community-resources-list
• Resources from Fairfax County Public Schools:  https://www.fcps.edu/blog/racism-and-hate-have-no-place-fcps and https://www.fcps.edu/blog/countering-stigma-and-racism