Coping with traumatic events, like the weekend shooting in Tucson, Arizona, can be difficult.

However, a local university is preparing students to respond.

On Monday, classes began for the new Counseling and Supervision program at James Madison University.

Dr. Lennis Echterling said the alarming suicide rate in the country, as well as the rise of traumatic events and terrorist activity, are all signs that we need to be better prepared to help victims.

He also said the demand for crisis counselors will grow even more in the upcoming years.

"In the next seven years, the need for counselors will increase by at least 18 percent. That means current training programs will not be able to handle the demand for counselors in the future," explains Echterling.

Echterling added that crisis counseling is never easy, and quick response is especially crucial for victims who are in their late teens and early 20s.

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