By Leia Larsen and Carmen Nesbitt | The Salt Lake Tribune | Photo by Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune

A packed crowd at Utah Valley University watched horrific events unfold in real time Wednesday, as political commentator Charlie Kirk was shot at a campus speaking event and later died.

Mental health professionals urge community members struggling to cope with the events to seek out support. A vigil is planned at the Utah State Capitol this evening. And mental health services are available, including free services for students and those experiencing a mental health crisis.

Witnessing violence triggers an anxiety-like response in the brain, said Dr. Eric Monson, a psychiatrist with the University of Utah Health. But it’s not actually anxiety, he said, it’s fear.

“What’s really happening is that we are feeling unsafe,” said Monson, “and our brain is telling us where we’re at [and] what’s happening is not safe.”

Counseling is available for students and educators around the clock via the SafeUT website and app. The resource is free and has a virtual chat option.

Other members of the public feeling a sense of hopelessness over the day’s events can call 988 for free and be connected to a crisis worker.

Read more at SLTrib.com.

This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aims to inform readers across the state.