We at the University Counseling Service (UCS) recognize and condemn the recent acts of violence that targeted the Black community in Buffalo, NY, members of the Taiwanese community in Laguna Woods, CA, and citizens of Uvalde, TX. This violence harms people in those locations, and contributes to ongoing fear and trauma everywhere, especially for those who identify as Black and/or people of color. These events of mass violence are causing harm and trauma for those we serve in our campus community: our undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, as well as UI staff and faculty.

We know that the field of mental health, broadly, has also negatively impacted or excluded people who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). UCS staff are committed to fostering safety and repairing these harms and continuing to invest in creating a safe, inclusive, and affirming climate for all individuals and communities. We promote and believe in an environment of inclusion and belonging and seek to support healing and justice in response to violence, especially racially-motivated violence and hate crimes like those that occurred in Buffalo, NY and Laguna Woods, CA.

Please know that the UCS is available as a resource for you or those that you care about. If you are interested in speaking individually with a therapist, please call 319-335-7294 or email ucs@uiowa.edu. If you would like to arrange a facilitated discussion for your group or organization you can submit an Outreach Program request here.