PTSD and trauma-informed care: why it matters now even more

It’s been a tough week in northern Alberta, watching thousands of people flee their homes from wildfires. Seven years ago…it was us. 

Our entire community was evacuated in a harrowing experience that has left its mark on everyone from children to seniors. The start to the fire season this year has been triggering for many of us in Fort McMurray who remember 2016 like it was yesterday. Not to mention the 2020 floods. 

This is where we come together to support the mental health of our community. When managers, leaders and others step forward to demonstrate compassion, empathy and patience as people experience a mix of emotions. 

We know from previous research that there are high rates of PTSD among junior and senior high school students in Wood Buffalo. We know that everyone who was here during that evacuation has experienced trauma.

This highlights the importance of trauma-informed care and ensuring that everyone who is in any leadership capacity in our community understands what this means and why it is important. 

We need to assume that everyone we come in contact with has experienced trauma. It doesn’t matter what that trauma was and it’s not for you to ask about. But it’s a reminder of how to deal with others. To treat people with respect and a recognition that you don’t know what happened to them that morning. Or last year. Or seven years ago. Their behaviour and actions may be a direct result of an experience you know nothing about. 

If we approach people with that level of compassion and understanding, then we can begin to help those who are struggling have some space to breathe, to heal. 

If you need support, reach out. Some Other Solutions has a full suite of mental health services available for children and adults, whether it be group therapy, one-on-one counselling and more. Learn more and book a session today.