08/29/2025
My heart is heavy for the Annunciation community, the **Prior Lake-Savage community—where I live—**the families affected, and all of us trying to process what happened this week.
As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), a qualified mental health provider, a mother, and your neighbor, I felt compelled to share some reflections. Not from a political standpoint, but from my professional expertise and my deep belief in the power of human connection, a sense of belonging, and a strong sense of community.
This isn’t about politics. This is about people.
In my clinical practice—firmly rooted in community care—I witness the profound impact of connection, accountability, and support systems. When someone lacks trusted people to check in on their thoughts, hold them accountable, teach healthy boundaries, or help them process what they’re feeling, the results can be devastating.
🧠What Mental Health Really Includes
Brain chemistry
Environmental and social influences
Protective factors like access to nutrition, sleep, and exercise
Support systems and accountability through healthy boundaries
(to name a few...)
We must look at the person in their environment, not simply through a standalone diagnosis or the overly broad label of “mental health.”
🤝 A Community Example
This week, we also saw the strength of our community in an image that spoke louder than words: youth hockey players from opposing teams coming together in prayer after their game on 8-27-25.
One of those players, in a grey jersey, attends Annunciation Catholic Church. On that sheet of ice—so central to many Minnesotan identities—two teams showed us the power of vulnerability, unity, and compassion.
This is just one example. Communities everywhere are stronger when we come together. My hope for Prior Lake-Savage, and the ever-growing communities we serve, is that we become defined by togetherness, empathy, and belonging.
đź“š What Research Confirms
Here’s what I know as a professional—and what research confirms: a genuine sense of belonging is one of the strongest protective factors we can offer each other.
When people feel connected and supported, the likelihood of isolation and harmful behavior decreases significantly.
Common diagnoses: Anxiety, depression, ADHD, and mood disorders are among the most common, affecting nearly 1 in 5 people every year.
School shooters as outliers: While over 60% of active shooters display behavioral or emotional warning signs, only about 25% have a formal diagnosis, and severe mental illness like psychosis is present in only about 5% of cases.
➡️ In other words: mental illness does not equal violence. The vast majority of individuals with mental health diagnoses are not violent, and acts like school shootings remain extremely rare statistical outliers.
đź’¬ A Message to Parents & Community
To parents: If you’re wondering how to talk to your children, know this—you are not alone. These conversations are hard, but they matter.
To anyone struggling: You are not alone either. There are people who care and want to walk alongside you. You don’t have to carry this by yourself.
Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is start a conversation. Let's create space for healing together.
Comments are welcome, but please keep this a safe space for our community. No political arguments, just support, questions, and meaningful conversation. Let's focus on healing and connection.
Photo credit by Wendy Travato via Nate Carlson.
