After the Tumbler Ridge school shooting, experts warn trauma may linger for years while the tragedy exposes major gaps in rural mental health care in B.C.
A Community Searching for Healing
Snow blankets the sports field outside an elementary school in Tumbler Ridge. There, a semicircle of metal portable classrooms now stands — a temporary space meant to help students return to routine after an unimaginable tragedy.
Just weeks ago, a deadly shooting at the local secondary school shattered this small northern community. Five students and a teacher’s aide lost their lives. Since then, grief has spread across classrooms, homes, and workplaces.
Now, while students slowly return to learning in temporary classrooms, another question is taking centre stage: How does a community truly heal from trauma like this?
Experts say the answer is far more complex than moving classes to a different building.
Experts Warn Trauma May Last for Years
Psychiatrists who study trauma say events like school shootings can leave deep and lasting psychological scars.
Dr. Arash Javanbakht, director of a trauma research clinic at Wayne State University, explains that young survivors may face serious mental health challenges.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression often follow such events. Moreover, those effects can linger for years.
“Trauma at this level needs experts,” he explained in an interview.
Early support matters. Screening students quickly helps identify those who need treatment. After that, therapy and counselling can reduce long-term harm.
However, experts also warn that trauma recovery requires careful steps — and avoiding painful places may not always help.
Avoidance Can Create New Problems
After the Feb. 10 attack, school officials quickly announced that students would not return to the secondary school building.
Soon after, the provincial government delivered portable classrooms so learning could continue somewhere else.
David Eby had promised grieving students that they would not be forced back into the building where the tragedy occurred.
The decision brought comfort to many families. Still, psychologists caution that avoiding trauma sites entirely can sometimes reinforce fear instead of reducing it.
According to Javanbakht, gradual exposure often helps survivors rebuild confidence.
Students should be part of that decision, he says. If they feel ready, returning to familiar places could support healing rather than harm it.
Therapy and Support May Be the Real Solution
Researchers who study mass violence say access to proper mental health care matters far more than where students attend class.
Amin Asfari, who studies mass shootings, agrees.
He says trauma-focused therapy — including cognitive behavioural therapy and group counselling — offers the strongest path toward recovery.
These approaches allow survivors to process their experiences together. As a result, students can rebuild trust and emotional safety.
However, delivering those services in remote communities remains difficult.
Rural Mental Health Gaps Come Into Focus
The tragedy has also exposed a troubling reality: rural communities often lack access to mental health professionals.
A recent study in the British Columbia Medical Journal found a dramatic difference across the province.
In Vancouver, about 43 psychiatrists serve every 100,000 residents. In northeastern B.C., that number drops to just over five.
This imbalance creates serious barriers for communities like Tumbler Ridge.
Canadian Mental Health Association CEO Jonathan Morris says mental health support often depends on geography.
“In many places, the services simply aren’t there,” he explains.
As a result, families sometimes travel hours to reach specialists.
Warning Signs Before the Tragedy
The February attack involved 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, who killed family members before continuing the violence at the school.
Police had previously responded to mental health concerns involving the suspect. On at least two occasions, officers transported her to hospital under the province’s mental health legislation.
Experts say those earlier warning signs highlight a larger issue: follow-up mental health care often varies widely between communities.
Without consistent long-term support, people can fall through the cracks.
Calls Grow for Long-Term Counselling
Local leaders say Tumbler Ridge needs more than temporary assistance.
Mayor Darryl Krakowka has called for long-term mental health resources.
“We need counsellors on the ground,” he said after the tragedy. “Not just short-term help.”
Provincial officials say additional clinicians and a child psychiatrist have already arrived in the community. Victim services teams and crisis responders have also been deployed.
Still, many residents believe the support must last months — or even years.
Lessons From Past Tragedies
Canada has faced similar challenges before.
After the 2020 mass shooting in Portapique, a national inquiry found that mental health care often receives less attention than physical health services.
The report recommended integrating mental health treatment more fully into the healthcare system.
Experts say that approach could help communities recover faster after traumatic events.
A Community Leaning on Each Other
Despite the challenges, those who work closely with northern communities say resilience remains strong.
Small towns often rely on close personal networks for support.
Friends check on neighbours. Teachers comfort students. Families share meals and stories as they process grief together.
In times of tragedy, that community bond can become one of the most powerful forms of healing.
And while the road ahead will be long, many believe Tumbler Ridge will move forward — step by step — together.
