Mental Health Response to Violence Guidebook

Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) has also developed a Mental Health Response to Violence Guidebook specifically for community organizations and first responders.

In 2022, the Sikh community commemorated the tenth anniversary of the mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and the first anniversary of the mass shooting at the FedEx facility in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Unfortunately, sangats across the country continue to face violence and traumatic events, from daily bullying to senseless murders. As a national Sikh American impact organization, we are committed to building capacity and resources to provide our community with tools and approaches so they can engage in self-care and navigate these traumatic experiences in the short and long term. As SALDEF has responded to these incidents and countless others for over twenty-five years, we have been struck by the continuing need for mental health support as part of a comprehensive set of victim services and the need to build a mental health infrastructure. Our hope is these resources will both serve the Sikh and Punjabi community and be a model for use by other communities in similar situations.

The full text PDF is available for free here.