Professionals exposed to society's worst incidents reveal how they process trauma and advocate for prevention over reactive response
In this episode of SecurED, Mike Matranga, the Host and CEO of M6 Global Defense, engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Anastasiya Bolton, Founder and CEO of ViKSTORY Media. They delve into the human side of trauma, specifically addressing how individuals like themselves, who are exposed to the most harrowing events in their professions, cope with the mental toll it takes.
Key Points of Discussion:
- Beyond Law Enforcement: Matranga emphasizes the need to shift our approach towards preventing harm by identifying early behavioral patterns. He highlights that while law enforcement plays a crucial role, it's not the sole solution.
- Addressing Trauma in Journalism: Bolton discusses the challenges that journalists face when covering traumatic events and how the industry is beginning to recognize the need for better mental health support and debriefing processes.
- A Call for Trauma-Informed Care: Both guests stress the importance of trauma-informed care, not only in law enforcement but also in journalism. Understanding the mental health implications of exposure to traumatic events and providing the necessary resources is key.
Mike Matranga, with a background in defense, and Anastasiya Bolton, a seasoned journalist, offer unique insights into the issue of trauma. Their extensive experience in dealing with the aftermath of violence underscores the need for a holistic approach that addresses not only immediate safety but also the mental well-being of those involved.
Their extensive experience in dealing with the aftermath of violence underscores the need for a holistic approach that addresses not only immediate safety but also the mental well-being of those involved.
Video TranscriptExpand ↓
What would you say to the individuals or the groups that continue to say that we don't have those kind of kids that won't happen here? I mean, you've covered all of these events. And let me ask you, were did it matter if they were higher socio economic or lower socio economic? Nope. Neighborhood or communities. Did that matter? Money money doesn't matter. Geography doesn't matter. Do you think that the the port the community in Sutherland Springs. It's a tiny itty bitty church on the side of a highway Mhmm. Where people were slaughtered. I'm I'm not gonna go into detail because I don't think I I should and nor I don't think I can, but there it's a tiny community that is that is rooted in faith in love for each other in service. I spent a week there, and I got that from day one. Do you think that they thought that somebody was gonna come in with an ARR fifteen rifle and and and shoot all of them, basically. It it's It is incomprehensible, the evil that I've seen that people do to each other, and I know you have to. Yes. And and and what I always try to make people understand is that violence does not know race No. Nor color or creed that it it is what it is. And and and it always shows itself. Yes. And we have to get to a point where we're identifying that. Yes. And that we have to start putting monetary and human resources into identifying behavior patterns of individuals who want to harm themself or others. Right. Instead of solely relying on law enforcement to save us because we know that that's not going to happen. You talk about Sutherland Springs. Okay? In Sutherland Springs, who prevented or who stopped that killing? Another armed resident. A neighbor who heard the shots. Mhmm. It wasn't law enforcement. I they geographically not. I and I, you know, I don't know where the nearest sheriff's department is, but geographically driving there multiple days during the week It's far. It's far. Right? So it was an individual who overheard it, who responded. And so you know, it absolutely drives me insane when we continue to see, you know, more laws being put in place that are, you know, putting more law enforcement resources into schools and whatnot. And then listen, I'm not saying that we don't need that. Yeah. They they are a part of the solution. They're not the solution. Data and Science will tell us since Columbine from the National Threat Assessment Center that if we can get out ahead of someone who wants to cause harm by observing their patterns of behavior, which are always there. Right. Then we can stop that individual from harming themself or others because what people don't understand is that the likelihood of a mass attack is a lot less than the likelihood of that individual taking their own life. And one is not less tragic than the other. And so we have to change our approach not only in schools, but in our manufacturing facilities, in our corporate offices, in our theme parks, in our shopping malls, in our grocery stores, that has to change. If someone is is exhibiting these these signs and symptoms of behavior, we have to have resources. Absolutely. And we have to be advocating at the highest level for those resources to be funded because it's not enough to say that we just built a law or we wrote wrong you gotta give resources to make it happen. Right? And we have to take away our own emotional and personal biases when we make those decisions as lawmakers. And I know we said we're not getting into politics, but I'm kinda dabbling. I'm dabbling on that edge. I'm not asking you to to participate. Can't join you there. I'm sorry. Yeah. Don't join me there. But so as someone who's seen this level of tragedy, working in the field in which you've worked, would you say that there is a that there is a certain level of trauma that even reporters suffer from. Absolutely. You know, to go home at night after a young child has been murdered and stay up at night thinking about the effects of that event on that child's family or the horror that that child must have faced in those last moments of their life. Yes. So what what do individuals like yourself that have been in the in the space, in media? How do y'all resolve with that? Resolve that? How do you cope with that mental health resources? Yeah. It's interesting that you mentioned that because I just started working with a large journalism organization. I'm, heading up a task force with incredible, members to try to provide some hands to how we as a profession can deal with it better. Because, let's let's use law enforcement as an examples. Mhmm. There are mandatory debriefs. Right? After an incident, you bring in a psychologist who is trauma informed. They do the you know, they go through the the steps that need to be taken that we know scientifically that work after an event like this. Right. In newsrooms. Mind you, we are still, you know, we're still covering the event. I'm still out. I'm still producing multiple stories a day. They bring in experts to talk to us. They bring in counselors. They provide that. The organization that I used to work for did that. I don't know if that is one hundred percent effective. I don't know if the counselors they bring in are trauma informed. I don't know if some of the folks who are, in charge at news organizations know what that means.
