At breakfast, a lesson in effects of emotional traumaAt breakfast, a lesson in effects of emotional trauma

United States Senator Gary Peters. Thoughts and prayers are great but they are not enough and we have to take action.”

Peters applauded Battle Creek and its many agencies for gathering to talk about the the effects of trauma and how best to ensure it doesn’t lead to violence.

“I am not aware of communities doing what you are doing here,” Peters said.

Schilling said later it’s important to understand that everyone has experiences that affect them and for an entire community it is important to understand trauma and how it can affect everyone.

“It takes people from every branch of the community and bringing them together and having discussions about how we are affected by this,” she said.

She said people suffer trauma from their everyday experiences within the community and events elsewhere.

“The problem is beyond the crisis;A it is the longer term.”

Schilling said communities have to learn how to cope with the long-term effects of trauma, not just the immediate needs following a crisis.

“Everyone wants quick fixes, but there are no quick fixes,” she said.