DAYTON, Ohio — The 5th anniversary of the Oregon District mass shooting in Dayton was Sunday, Aug. 4.

The community came together to honor the memory of the nine people who lost their lives.

Since the tragedy happened, many people have been working behind the scenes and on the front lines of mental health in Ohio.

What You Need To Know

  • The community came together for the 5th anniversary of the Oregon District mass shooting

  • For years, many people have been working behind the scenes on mental health

  • University of Dayton Professor Scott Hall has been working with local FBI offices to help recognize extremism and to serve as a mental health advisor

University of Dayton Professor Scott Hall has devoted 30 years to mental health and counseling.

After the Oregon District shooting, he worked with local FBI offices on a very important project. Five years later, that work continues.

Hall was asked to work with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force as a mental health advisor.

“From my understanding, our relationship at this local unit was one of the first to have a civilian mental health advisor participate with the field office. So we’ve just expanded from there,” said Hall.

Hall helps to identify and mitigate violent extremism and teaches others how to do the same. He was even recognized with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award.

As the community gathers to mark the 5th anniversary, Hall said it’s common for some to feel uneasy.

“It’s difficult because it frames up under what we call ‘anniversary effects,'” he said. “We may start showing symptoms of grief, anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks."

Hall said the landscape of mental health is changing with progressive interventions, but at the same time, the reasons for traumatic events are accelerating due to shooting, natural disasters and even climate change.

“We have to talk about those in class so the folks coming into the profession will be really tuned in and be ready to help people in ways that we really didn’t have to think about fifteen or twenty years ago,” Hall said.

Since the shooting, each year, Hall helps members of the FBI meet with local mental health therapists to gain a different perspective.

“It can anything from ‘what are the profiles and the indicators that we need to be aware of that lead to these pathways to violence,” he said.

In terms of healing, Hall said it’s important to be realistic, but it’s crucial to stay connected with people and talk.

“We need to look for opportunity and joy in our life. That tips the scale the other way from fear and that’s what allows us to kind of, in a good mental and emotional way, move forward,” he said.