Last week, we were thrilled to host a virtual session on available resources for Canadians living with PTSD. We featured volunteers from the Caregivers’ Brigade (more about this lovely group in a moment), our very own social worker extraordinaire, Ed MacAulay, and a military spouse whose husband has PTSD.
It was a wonderful session of learning and sharing. Here’s what we talked about …
Caregivers’ Brigade
The Caregivers’ Brigade is an amazing resource for anyone living with PTSD or any mental health illness—and this includes friends and family, too! Formed entirely by volunteers in 2014, it contains all kinds of resources (135 links, actually) … and these are Canadian resources!
Their mandate: To inform and empower families with information and resources related to organizations that assist families to navigate the system when dealing with PTSD.
It is not a counselling or support group, but it does offer support through sharing available resources. Being diagnosed and living with PTSD can be, at times, overwhelming, and so it’s so great to see all these resources listed in one easy-to-find place! Some of the topics covered on the site include information lines, research organizations, DND/CAF/Veteran/RCMP-specific resources, physical and mental health, child/youth, transitioning and employment opportunities.
Those of us on the virtual session learned more about all kinds of resources including:
- Member Assistance Program
- Military Family Resource
- Veteran Resources
- iSTEP, a program for children, ages 6-12, who have a parent with an OSI
- Soldier On
- Canadian Military Family Magazine
- Futurpreneur transition services
- PTSD Trauma Healing Centres
To see more of the 135 resources, you can visit the Caregivers’ Brigade’s website here
They’re on Facebook, too!
MFRC Family Liaison Officer (FLO)
Since the majority of those living with PTSD, another type of OSI, or any mental illness require support, it is essential for family and friends to also receive support.
Ed MacAulay, the Family Liaison Officer (FLO) for PEI MFRC talked about the Mental Health Continuum Model and various mandated programs available at MFRCs throughout Canada.
Ed has spoken with just over a dozen families here in PEI who are dealing with PTSD and encourages any military personnel who has experienced any type of combat or traumatic event to check out services offered. “PTSD can show up at any time,” he noted, “It may not surface right away, but show up in later stages of transition.”
Note: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is not restricted to military personnel, and we’re happy to share these resources with anyone living with this illness.
The Importance of Self Care
Leigh, a military wife whose husband has been living with PTSD for seven years, shared her coping mechanisms with the group. A lot of focus was placed on self-care, both for the person with PTSD and for the caregiver. Learning what is The New Normal and accepting its limitations and challenges and discovering new ways of living is critical. One example Leigh gave was for the person who may no longer be able to handle large crowds, but who still enjoys music. Instead of going out to a concert, you can invite a small group (size will depend on the person’s comfort level) to your house to play an instrument or listen to music together.
Click here to listen to a recording of this session.
Thank you, Margaret, for facilitating another wonderful sharing experience for our Island military community connecting people virtually! (To check out upcoming virtual sessions, please visit our events calendar)