Statement by MHP In Response to the King Soopers Shooting
Mental Health Partners (MHP) is expressing grief and shock as the realization that the community in Boulder– our community – has now joined others across the state and nation that have been impacted by a mass shooting. The shooting at the King Soopers in Boulder on March 22, 2021 claimed 10 lives, including Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley. Officer Talley was a respected member of the Boulder Police Department who worked closely with our organization. He often provided support to our 24/7 Crisis Services and other team members. MHP will always remember and honor Officer Talley’s compassionate manner towards our clients and dedication to making Boulder a safer community.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, MHP’s 24/7 Crisis Team provided support to some of the victims and their families. As Boulder County’s community mental health center, we were honored to provide that level of critical and compassionate care to members of our community who were experiencing significant hurt and trauma. Our staff’s professionalism and expertise during that challenging situation are qualities that truly embody the values of a community mental health center that has served the Boulder and Broomfield communities for over 50 years.
Additionally, though the initial incident is over, MHP remains a resource for our community as we navigate through the ongoing collective trauma and impact on mental health. This support includes:
- For immediate crisis support, community members can call the 24/7 Statewide Crisis Line at 1-844-493-TALK (or text TALK to 38255) or visit the 24/7 Walk-in Crisis Center & Addiction Walk-In Services at 3180 Airport Road, Boulder CO.
- Mental health services are accessible via our main line at (303) 443-8500.
- We have created a dedicated webpage with a list of resources and support regarding community trauma and mourning here: www.mhpcolorado.org/community-in-mourning.
- Our social media sites (Facebook: @MentalHealthPartnersCO | Twitter: @MentalHealthCO | Instagram: @mentalhealthpartnersco) are also posting support and resources for the aftermath of a traumatic, mass violence event.
If a community partner would like to offer their clinical support to community members or staff, they can contact Kevin Braney, Director of Professional Development & Training at MHP (kbraney@mhpcolorado.org). For donations or in-kind donation requests, please contact Cindy Cohagen, Director of Philanthropy and Community Relations at MHP (ccohangen@mhpcolorado.org). For media requests or additional resources, contact Kristina Shaw, Public Information Officer at MHP (kshaw@mhpcolorado.org or 303-545-0840).
Our thoughts go out to all the victims, and their families and friends, community members and everyone impacted by this shooting. Healing from this traumatic event will be a long road, and we are just at the beginning. But we know that, together, we will tap into our strength, compassion, and resilience.