CAPS Response to Race-Related Trauma and Care

In Solidarity with AAPI (Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander) Communities

With heavy hearts, we recognize the increasing violence and hate toward Asian and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, including the most recent anti-Asian shooting violence in metropolitan Atlanta, U.S. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) stands in solidarity with the AAPI communities and strongly condemning racism, xenophobia, and bias-motivated violence of any kind. While racial discrimination and violence towards Asian communities are not new, the pandemic has led to more anti-Asian rhetoric, discrimination, and physical assaults toward Asian communities across the globe. Direct and indirect exposure to such events can be stressful and traumatizing, resulting in many emotional reactions, such as grief, sadness, sorrow, shame, rage, fear, confusion, and isolation. All of these feelings are extremely human. Please be compassionate with ourselves and others during hard times, and create moments to slow down, take a breath, and remember that we are not alone. CAPS is always here to support.

Helpful videos for Asian Americans parents (talking to their kids about racism and xenophobia)

In Solidarity with the Black Community

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) joins EVC Denis Simon, Dean Raphael Moffett and VCAA Scott MacEachern in expressing our grief, sorrow and compassion to all those who have been, and continue to be, impacted by the race-based tragedies occurring across the United States and the world. These tragedies reflect a longstanding and entrenched history of structural and systematic injustice that we condemn. We strongly oppose discrimination, hate, and intolerance and stand in solidarity with our Black students, faculty and staff.

We recognize that these tragedies may be especially painful and traumatizing to members of our Black or African American community. In the aftermath of experiencing or witnessing racial injustice and violence, it is normal to experience a range of feelings and emotions, such as shock, fear, sadness, anger, helplessness and/or guilt. CAPS is committed to provide affirming mental health care for all of our students who have been directly or vicariously impacted by experiences of racialized trauma.

CAPS has collected self-help tools for students who are impacted by recent race-based tragedies, please see the following resources for support. You can also email us for further information about our service (caps@dukekunshan.edu.cn)