Mental health issues are not something that can be ignored.
The encyclopedia describes Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a mental disorder that can develop after a person is exposed to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions or a threat to one’s life.
If you have ever been in uniform, whether it is military or police or as a member of the emergency first responders program, or more likely, you know someone who has, the chances are good you are familiar with the term.
In this week’s issue, Barrhead Regional Fire Department chief John Whittaker discusses the importance of PTSD counseling and programs available to emergency personnel.
In the article on our front page, Whittaker says he doesn’t think PTSD is a disorder per se and likens it to ‘the body’s normal reaction to an abnormal situation’.
That being said, that Whittaker said he shares the sentiment of the Ripple Connection Support Centre’s director Darcy Lockhart in that ignoring the problem is not the answer.
The reason this subject came up was due to the fact Whittaker was asked his personal opinion on the value of having a government-sponsored mobile unit tasked with offering specialized clinical counseling and therapy for distressed emergency first responders.
This week, municipalities will engage in a discussion regarding Resolution 12-17F — a resolution for said mobile unit sponsored by the County of St. Paul, at the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties conference.
It is a good place to start in our opinion.
However, this is not an illness that pertains solely to service personnel or first responders however and it isn’t necessarily an adults-only issue.
Yes, you read that right.
Children can experience PTSD too.
The good news is that there are programs and services available.
Through Veteran Affairs, Canadian service personnel can participate in a program that includes rehabilitation, financial benefits, job placement, health benefits, disability awards and both peer and family support services.
In Barrhead, the doors to the Ripple Connection Support Centre and the Lighthouse program offered through the Barrhead Association for Community Living (BACL) are both available to anyone struggling with mental health.
So if you’ve been involved in a collision or another incident and have difficulty sleeping afterwards, don’t be embarrassed. Talk to someone. It’s always better to get it out in the open than try to deal with it yourself.
