Statement by Paul Gionfriddo, MHA president and CEO, on Las Vegas Shooting

"This morning, we were awakened to the horror of the largest mass shooting in United States history. It is hard to ignore the shock of such news, and impossible at this early stage to determine the motive of the 64-year-old shooter.

"What we do know is this. The families of the at least 58 who died and the 500+ who were injured will be affected by this event for the rest of their lives.  Long after the physical wounds have healed, the trauma will remain. It is critically important that we recognize and understand this, and do all that we can to offer the help and support that these individuals, families, and loved ones need.

"Mental Health America stands ready to do our part. We encourage people to use our screening and S2S resources on our web site to find help and support. If you or someone you love is feeling overwhelmed by what has happened and needs someone to talk to, please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text MHA to 741-741.

"In the coming days and weeks, we hope that we will gain insight into why this kind of violence occurs - seemingly with no reason - and why we seem to be experiencing these violent acts with increasing frequency. Simple answers clearly elude us. But we have to find ways to prevent these events from occurring."