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Gun Violence Hits Close to Home

On March 9, 2018, three mental health professionals lost their lives from gun violence by a former resident under treatment at Pathway Home. One of the victims, Executive Director of the Pathway Home program at the Veterans Home of California, Christine Loeber, was a master’s prepared Social Worker. Veterans Home of California and the Pathway Home program, has been a partner with the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work VAC since 2012 and have hosted over 16 of our MSW students in field practicum. NASW-CA paid tribute to the incredible work Christine Loeber provided to the Social Work profession and her commitment to our Veteran and Military members. In continued support of our partnership with Veterans Home of California, we reached out in support and condolences of the tragic loss experienced that day. Source:

7 ways to help prevent school shootings (CNN Op-Ed)

Professor Ron Astor shares 7 ways to help prevent school shootings, including "disentangle discussions about mental health from cases of individuals who threaten harm, have a method and access to weapons." Source:

Seeing the light. What is photobiomodulation and how is it changing the way we treat the brain?

As prospects for pharmaceutical solutions to Alzheimer's decline with no solution in sight over the next five years - could this daunting challenge be a catalyst for acceleration of alternative therapies? Vielight, partnering with leading health research institutions in North America has now attracted worldwide attention for its unique light therapy (photobiomodulation) technology which is showing promise for a number neurological conditions. Photobiomodulation uses visible red and near infrared light energy stimulates cells to generate more energy and undergo self-repair. The concept is not new, but advanced technologies and applications have allowed this form of therapy to emerge as a new leader in treating brain trauma and afflictions and diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. The first large scale human clinical trial kicks off this year in Toronto - but patients and families have already seen astounding results. Health research institutions are making serious investments in light therapy research related to variety of neurological conditions and treatments such as Alzheimer's, dementia and Parkinson's. Researchers at institutions such as Harvard, UCSF and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto are discovering profound neurological effects of Vielight technology to support treatment options for Alzheimer’s and Dementia, PTSD and Traumatic brain Injury. There are a lot of questions and there is still a lot to learn about this emerging technology as well as the advancements that are taking place as we learn more about the brain and how to treat it. That’s where the experts from Vielight can help. Simply click on the icons of one of the many experts from Vielight to arrange an interview or learn more about photobiomodulation and how light therapy is being used to treat patients around the world. Source:

School shootings traumatize more than those directly affected

David Schonfeld, Director, National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work: "Even students that have no direct connections with any of the communities where these shootings occurred may nonetheless be impacted by the media coverage. Just knowing that it could happen in another school in the country may make them feel vulnerable. The National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement has guidelines on how to talk to children about school shootings in the media at https://www.schoolcrisiscenter.org/resources/talking-kids-about-tragedies/." Marleen Wong, Stein/Goldberg Sachs Endowed Professor of Mental Health at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work: "There are now thousands of student and teacher survivors of school shootings across the country. Social workers should be aware that these survivors could have strong reactions, including serious distress, because the present shootings are reopening old wounds." Source: