ROUND ROCK, Texas — As the Central Texas community grieves, officials want you to know help is available. A Pflugerville City Council member is offering mental health resources for those struggling to cope with the Juneteenth celebration shooting in Round Rock which killed two people.
The Harvest Trauma Recovery Center in Austin has therapists available for walk-ins and virtual appointments. If you want to sign up for one-on-one time, you can stop by the center, located at 6633 Highway 290 East, Suite 300.
A group session will be taking place at noon on Wednesday.
Pflugerville City Councilmember and crisis counselor Kimberly Holiday was a friend of Ara Duke, one of the victims of the shooting. She described Duke as a "light and beacon."
With the anger and sadness she is feeling, Holiday said she still wants to help others by offering them the support they need from the recovery center.
"If we don't address the underlying feelings, they manifest themselves in different ways and hurt people hurt people. And so, I think it's really important that we just have conversation around what has happened and be very open and transparent about it," Holiday said.
Candyce Hunt was selling T-shirts at the event with her daughter and remembers hearing the gunshots, taking cover with other families. She calls it "disheartening," adding that the festival ended but she hopes the community can use the opportunity to help others.
"It can happen anywhere. So let's make sure that we do what we need to do to educate our children, to mobilize and to make sure that we are giving them access to the mental health resources without it being a barrier to costs," Hunt said.
Mental health resources
For those in need of mental health assistance following this incident, the Round Rock Fire Department's Crisis Response Unit can be reached during the special extended office hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Friday, June 21, by calling 512-218-5501.
Outside of those hours, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Disaster Distress Helpline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 1-800-985-5990.
Other general mental health support services include the Crisis Text Hotline (text HOME to 741741), the National Crisis and Suicide Prevention Lifeline (dial 988) and the Bluebonnet Trails Crisis Hotline (call 1-800-841-1255).