The Independent Commission investigating the mass shooting in Lewiston held a meeting on Thursday morning where they heard testimony from Col. Mark Ochoa, a representative of the Psychological Health Program for the Army Reserve. During the hearing, Ochoa emphasized that support is always available to members of the Army Reserve who are unresponsive to attempts to contact them by a Partial Hospitalization Program. This was one topic discussed during the hearing and medical and legal professionals asked questions on what steps should be taken in such cases.
The commission is planning to release its final report on the shootings this summer, which will likely include recommendations for how to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The commission’s work is aimed at understanding what led to the mass shooting and how to improve systems to better support and protect individuals in the community. Overall, their efforts are focused on promoting healing and ensuring that resources are in place to address mental health needs. By gathering information and input from various experts and stakeholders, they hope to create a comprehensive report that will guide future actions and policies related to mental health support within the Army Reserve and beyond.
