Note to readers • The Salt Lake Tribune has made this story free to all.
A packed crowd at Utah Valley University watched horrific events unfold in real time Wednesday, as political commentator Charlie Kirk was shot at a campus speaking event and later died.
Mental health professionals urge community members struggling to cope with the events to seek out support. A vigil is planned at the Utah State Capitol this evening. And mental health services are available, including free services for students and those experiencing a mental health crisis.
Witnessing violence triggers an anxiety-like response in the brain, said Dr. Eric Monson, a psychiatrist with the University of Utah Health. But it’s not actually anxiety, he said, it’s fear.
“What’s really happening is that we are feeling unsafe,” said Monson, “and our brain is telling us where we’re at [and] what’s happening is not safe.”
That’s why students and community members who witnessed today’s shooting should take steps to “recreate a feeling of safety,” Monson said.
Counseling is available for students and educators around the clock via the SafeUT website and app. The resource is free and has a virtual chat option.
Other members of the public feeling a sense of hopelessness over the day’s events can call 988 for free and be connected to a crisis worker.
A New View Counseling and Psychological Services in Springville is also compiling a directory of therapists statewide who have availability, according to Executive Director Kathrine Parnell. The list will be available through the clinic’s website.
Parnell noted the shooting’s impacts extend beyond those who witnessed it on campus to those who watched the events unfold on social media.
“There is going to be a great need in our community to come together,” Parnell said. “Emotion is something that’s universal. It doesn’t matter what side of the fence you are on politically or religiously.”
While reactions to trauma may look different for everyone, they can include disassociation, distraction or leaning on habits that are not always healthy.
Parnell and Monson instead recommend connection with family members, friends and tapping into support networks.
“Anything that we can do to restore that feeling of calm or safety is so important, and, so, that’s what I would recommend immediately,” Monson said.
The Utah House of Representatives is holding a vigil starting at 7 p.m. at the State Capitol for those grieving.
For those who may be cut off from their support networks, or can’t leave campus, Monson recommended engaging with others nearby, even if they are strangers.
(Dylan Eubank | The Salt Lake Tribune) People gather outside Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Lehi in support of Charlie Kirk after he was shot and killed at Utah Valley University, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025.
It’s really about “connecting with other people in any way that you reasonably can,” he said.
After a traumatic event, it’s “completely normal” to feel unsafe for a little while, Monson said. How long those feelings linger depends largely on a person’s past experiences and their “tolerance” for distressing situations, he said.
The feelings should eventually fade, but if they don’t after several weeks, it may be time for professional help, Monson said.
“What’s important to recognize is if after something like this happens, days and weeks begin to go by and people are noticing that their mood is getting worse, or that they find that they’re avoiding situations that normally wouldn’t have,” he said. “If things like that are happening, that’s a real indicator that some additional support and help is going to be needed.”
He added that simply being there can help someone who is working through trauma.
“If someone who was at the event reaches out to you, offering compassionate and calm support, letting them talk about what they are comfortable sharing and helping them to feel safe are all very helpful,” Monson said.
Health organizations across the state are already mobilizing resources to support those who need them, said Rachel Lucynski, director of community crisis intervention and support services with the Huntsman Mental Health Institute.
“Even though the UVU campus is closed today, we do have those no-cost community resources that are immediately available,” Lucynski said. “And then, of course, we’ll be working through what does longer-term support look like.”
One solution will be “mobile crisis outreach teams” that will be available to help those in need, she said. Those wishing to connect to a mobile crisis team member can call 988.
Coping with violent events like those witnessed at UVU also takes time, Parnell said.
“It is not going to be a one-time sit down to try and retrain the brain,” she said. “They will probably need to have recurrent moments of reminding themselves” of areas where they do have safety in their lives.
The shooting grabbed headlines across the world and dominated social media Wednesday. Parnell noted many families may face uncomfortable conversations around the dinner table tonight.
“Sometimes parents ... we want to rush in and we want to fix,” Parnell said. “We need to understand what our children are feeling. We need to hold them, we need to remind them of the safety they have around them.”
Sitting with kids’ emotions is more productive than trying to provide answers, she said.
“I don’t think anyone,” Parnell said, “really has the answers today.”
UVU on campus support systems will be available and announced before campus is expected to reopen Monday.
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services also recommended these resources:
• Warm Line, available at 833-773-2588 between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m., connects people going through personal struggles with peer support specialists who have faced similar circumstances.
• Behavioral Health Services Navigation, available at 833-442-2211 for adults and 801-313-7711 for kids and teens, is sponsored by Intermountain Health to help anyone looking for mental health or behavioral support.
• Healthy Minds is an online resource, at healthyminds.utah.gov, that allows people to check in and see how they’re doing mentally. The website offers free, anonymous and private questionnaires for anyone in Utah.