The toll of division
When Division Turns Deadly: Why We Must Rebuild Belonging Now
On September 10, 2025, the day Charlie Kirk was shot and sadly killed while speaking at Utah Valley University, headlines were also filled with another school shooting just minutes away in Evergreen, Colorado. A 16‑year‑old opened fire at a local high school, critically injuring two students before turning the gun on himself. The weight of such events stacking up in one nation, in one minute, makes clear: gun violence, political violence and unmet mental health needs are no longer distant or rare, they are part of a pattern, and they demand a new kind of public response. In recent years, America has experienced a profound unraveling of its social fabric. Partisan politics, cultural divisions, and racially charged rhetoric have created an environment of "us versus them", and it's destroying us from the inside out. It is a reflection of the dangerous normalization of division that has seeped into every facet of American life. The debate over free speech, race, identity, political views, the tension has become combustible. And when political discourse becomes a war zone, we all lose. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in the aftermath shows about 63% of Americans believe harsh political rhetoric “fuels political violence a lot,” and 79% feel Americans have become less tolerant of opposing views, revealing a public that senses the ground shifting under them.
The Bigger Picture: Division, Mental Health, and Community
This environment of hate and hostility doesn’t just destroy communities, it erodes minds. Americans are reporting record-high levels of stress and anxiety tied to political division, systemic injustice, and social alienation. According to the American Psychological Association, more than 70% of adults say the future of the nation is a significant source of stress. These numbers climb even higher for communities of color, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Beyond stress, the mental health system is failing to meet people where they are. Depression and trauma go untreated, particularly in communities facing disinvestment, generational grief, and racial injustice. We’re not just divided; we’re disconnected, unhealthy, and unsupported. And it's costing us lives.
The consequences go beyond politics. They seep into mental health, community well‑being, and public safety. Here are some recent findings:
Political violence is rising. Since early 2021, there have been hundreds of politically motivated attacks - including threats, vandalism, and murders. Reynolds of American democracy and civic space are eroding. Journal of Democracy+2Reuters+2
Stress, anxiety, and fear are widespread. Per national surveys, more than 70% of Americans say they worry the outcome of national elections could lead to violence. Over half report that politics causes them stress or anxiety. American Psychological Association+1
Mental health care access is deeply unequal. A study found that about 62% of adults with depressive symptoms had unmet mental health care needs. The problem crosses partisan lines, depression doesn’t care whether you identify Democrat, Republican, or Independent but the ability to get help often does. Bloomberg School of Public Health
LGBTQ+ youth particularly impacted. Ninety percent say politics has harmed their well‑being. Many report thoughts of suicide, bullying, or being forced to distance themselves. Them
These numbers are more than statistics—they are warning signs of how environments of division harm real people.
American Psychologocial Association
Creating An Environment for Change
This docu-series isn’t just a mirror - it’s a map forward. Here’s how we hope to help:
Focus on Shared Spaces Where Unity Happens. Every episode examines an environment - sports, politics, music, medicine, military, unions, where people have already crossed lines of division to connect. These stories aren’t rare; they are proof that belonging can be cultivated.
Explore How Environment (Physical+Social) Matters. It’s not just about what we believe, it’s about where we gather. How unions are built? Who creates the spaces? Do hospitals or political forums foster dignity or alienation? Architecture, design, access - they all shape belonging.
Center Storytelling + Witnessing. By elevating voices from high-profile figures to grassroots leaders who have experienced unity, hope, challenge, and risk, the documentary shows that healing is possible. Empathy is built when we see ourselves in someone else’s path.
Use Expert Insight to Connect Dots. Psychologists, historians, sociologists will unpack what’s happening behind the scenes: how prolonged exposure to fear, “othering,” or political hostility damages stress hormones, trust, civic participation, and even long-term health.
Make It Actionable. The project isn’t just for watching. There will be community screenings, dialogue toolkits, and concrete ideas people can use in their neighborhoods, institutions, and policy. Because story without action often means letting the same patterns repeat.
be part of the solution, not the problem
To reverse this downward spiral, we need more than condemnation. We need proactive, sustained work to build environments of belonging; we need exposure and education.
Design for Belonging - physical spaces matter: auditoriums, community centers, hospitals, sports arenas. Their design, who controls them, who uses them, how accessible they are all shape connection.
Shared Purpose - when people unite around common goals (health, safety, community service, art, sport), different backgrounds matter less than the work.
Open Storytelling - sharing stories from all walks of life, especially those across divides. Sharing vulnerability. Letting people see each other’s humanity.
Facilitated Dialogue in Communities - not just protests, but structured conversations, listening sessions, courageous conversations. In schools, religious institutions, clubs.
Media as Bridge, Not Fuel - media tends to amplify extremes. We need media that humanizes, that explores nuance, that builds empathy. That’s what An Environment for Change aims to do.
What You Can Do Today
Share this message. Post, talk, amplify stories of belonging you know.
Support media and storytelling that promote empathy and common ground.
Attend or organize screenings. Bring people together around shared values.
Ask for safe spaces in your own community, in your church, club, school, or workplace, where difficult conversations can happen.
Vote for leadership that prioritizes civility, equity, and justice over division.
This should be the moment we recommit to building environments that refuse violence, that restore belonging, that remember: we are better together.