Erica Lennon oral history interview, 2020 May 11

Description

Erica Lennon, Assistant Director for Outreach in Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at UNC Charlotte, discusses her experience on April 30th, 2019 and CAPS' role in providing psychological services for students. Ms. Lennon recalls where she was when she received a phone call from her partner alerting her that there was a possible active shooter on the campus. She remembers her actions over the next twenty-four hours as she checked on the safety of colleagues and coordinated counselors stationed in the student union. Over the next week, CAPS revamped outreach and clinical services, offering 30 minute spaces for crisis appointments, and made themselves available at the vigil on May 1st for students seeking support. Ms. Lennon speaks to the impact of student counseling services and working through issues of anxiety, trauma and avoidance of certain spaces on campus. She also speaks to her experience responding in a crisis and her belief that the tragedy on campus has increased awareness in mental health and mental health services at UNC Charlotte.