Much of Jill McMahon’s life has been colored by gun violence. When McMahon was 6, she and her mother were carjacked at gunpoint.
Then, "The day that Columbine happened, April 20, 1999, we were bringing our firstborn child home from the hospital," she says. "So, as we were leaving the hospital bay, the ambulances were coming in with children that lost their life to Columbine."
McMahon now works in Scottsdale as a grief and trauma therapist. She’s also the author of a new book "Bulletproof: Healing After Gun Violence & Trauma; A Guide for Survivors, Caregivers, and Clinicians."
"What I've done is encapsulated probably 10 to 20 years of experience, information and advice from the survivor as to what works best for them," she said.
She also wanted to create something for mental health professionals.
"I understand that what I’ve chosen to do is unique, but there needs to be more of me around. Because suicide is on the rise … and we also know that gun violence episodes or events are also on the rise," she said.
Her book follows five individuals whose lives have been impacted by gun violence, all in very different ways, including former Democratic lawmaker Jennifer Longdon. Her book also touches on the need for more services and support for survivors.
Bulletproof is available on Amazon.
