Naked Psychology with Doug and Kendall. How public shootings affect our mental health

"On Naked Psychology with Doug and Kendall, we’re diving into how public shootings affect our mental health. These tragedies don’t just impact the people who are physically there — they ripple through entire communities and even across the country. Psychologically, events like these heighten our sense of vulnerability and trigger what’s called collective trauma. Even if you’ve never been directly exposed, constant media coverage can create vicarious trauma — leaving people anxious, hyper-alert in public spaces, and fearful about everyday routines like going to school, concerts, or shopping. The reality is that the odds of being in a mass shooting are very low, but because our brains are wired to hold onto threats more than safety, these events stick with us and change how we see the world.”