Tumbler Ridge needs mental health help beyond immediate shooting aftermath: psychologist

TORONTO — As the federal and provincial governments pledge support for the people of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., a psychologist specializing in trauma says mental health services will be needed beyond the immediate aftermath of Tuesday’s mass shooting.

McMaster University psychologist Dr. Margaret McKinnon says mental health supporters are often brought into communities after tragedies but then leave, leading to a sense of abandonment on top of trauma.

McKinnon says students at the local school targeted in the shooting, parents, first responders and other members of the small community may need long-term psychological support.

She says the most common reactions after mass shootings are fear, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Those can include nightmares or reliving the event, as well as an “overwhelming sense of guilt” about what they could or couldn’t have done during the shooting.

McKinnon says post-traumatic stress can also manifest in physical ways, including an upset stomach or other gastrointestinal problems.

She says the symptoms may resolve for many people over time, but at least a quarter of those affected will likely experience them for a year or more.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2026.

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