By Mazell Sykes and Fisile Mabuza
At the beginning of May, the Chicago Police Department released data showing that there had been 641 total shootings in Chicago. Although this indicated a decrease in gun violence since 2020, CPD reported that they had confiscated 362 assault weapons. Figures like this show how gun violence is still a severe issue in Chicago. As Mental Health Awareness Month ends and Gun Violence Prevention Month begins, the impact of these crimes on everyday people must be considered.
Studies show that “people who are impacted by gun violence may experience stress, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).” (www.bradyunited.org) The effects of such violence extend not just to survivors but also to witnesses, bystanders, neighbors, and all those who love them. One Chicago resident who has experienced the impact of gun violence is Mazell Sykes.
Mazell Sykes works closely with LIVE FREE Ilinois and uses her story to help fight against gun violence in Chicago. She lost her son, Calvin, to gun violence and although was not directly victimized that day, she still experiences vicarious trauma.
“Many times I felt like I was going crazy. Anxiety took over, and my sense of control was completely gone. Our lives have been forcefully altered. The loss of Calvin stripped us to the core, there are times I have to remind myself to breathe. Breathe, you can survive.”
Mrs. Sykes, along with many other people living in Illinois, is living with the impact of gun violence. Generally, people only consider the victims who are injured or lose their lives to such violence, but rarely do we think about the effect it has on communities and generations to come.
That is why LIVE FREE Illinois is working to create Community Healing Resource Centers in various Illinois neighborhoods. The Community Healing Resource Center is a healthcare-based violence intervention program that provides quality services and resources to survivors of intentional trauma with compassion, respect, and care.
These centers aim to do three things:
Reduce gun violence
Promote healing in communities
Support neighborhoods impacted by gun violence.
Mrs. Sykes also experienced physical trauma on top of the mental turmoil she faced.
“I could not eat,” she says. “I lost 30lbs and ended up in a diabetic Coma.” Losing her son impacted her so much, yet she still had to push the Maywood Police Department to give her answers on how close they were to solving the case. “I did not get calls or updates from the Maywood Police Department. Unless I called them or stopped by the station, they would just tell me they are working on the case and could not talk about the murder.”
Her family members also experience trauma symptoms after her son’s murder. “My Grandson had a mental breakdown due to the death of Calvin, his uncle. At that time, we had to seek trauma/mental health resources for my grandson,” she recalls. “He is still taking medication and receiving therapy three times a week.”
Mrs. Sykes and her family are one of the many families in Illinois impacted by gun violence. They all need resources that can help put an end to cycles of violence. They are the people that the CHRCs will serve. Each center will be equipped to support the unique needs of survivors and their families to foster hope for a better future. They will provide access to trauma-informed care by acknowledging how past and present traumatic experiences, together with stress, may impact individuals and their families.
The centers are set to launch in July, and we encourage everyone impacted by gun violence to take advantage of the services they provide. More information on the centers will be provided on our website and newsletters.
We also encourage those who can to invest in gun violence prevention.
