Calgary police hosting meeting for residents affected by trauma

Calgary police are encouraging anyone in the city experiencing distress due to the Humboldt tragedy to attend a community forum this week.

On Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Calgary police headquarters, the service’s victim assistance support team and several local agencies will be hosting a meeting that will address how incidents like the fatal bus collision can affect people and how different people process traumatic experiences.

Other issues covered during the session will include how to manage vicarious trauma from exposure to social media.

The event will not involve any form of counselling, but police said representatives from partner agencies that specialize in trauma will be there and can refer attendees to other supports.

“We really want to manage people’s experiences in a healthy way by giving them guidance and making sure that they ’re connected to those proper agencies that can help them through this,” said Staff Sgt. Mark Hatchette with the victim assistance support team.

Scott McLean, a forensic social worker and psychologist who will be facilitating the forum, said topics of discussion will include common reactions and symptoms in this kind of situation, and warning signs that parents can look out for in their children and youth.

“It’s really a lot of changes in behaviour,” he said. “It could be not sleeping well, it could be eating more, and there might be an increase in alcohol, as an example.”

He added there’s a concern about exposure to social media and the potential that people could feel inundated by the number of posts on the tragedy.

“One of the real keys to our forum is allowing people to understand what are common reactions (and) how to look at supporting young people and adults around these symptoms,” he said.

Robbie Babins-Wagner, CEO of the Calgary Counselling Centre, said anyone who needs to talk about the tragedy can also contact organizations like the counselling centre or the Distress Centre.

“Everybody will see these images and be upset by it,” she said, adding that if that feeling doesn’t go away in a week or two, it’s time to seek counselling.

“It’s only natural to be upset by what we’ve seen.”

Kids Help Phone said in a statement that the organization encourages young people who are affected by the Humboldt tragedy to seek support. Counsellors with Kids Help Phone are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800668-6868. Youth can also text the word SUPPORT to 686868 to reach a trained volunteer responder through the Crisis Text Line. “Our hearts are with everyone impacted by the Humboldt Broncos tragedy and we share our deepest condolences to the families and communities involved,” Kids Help Phone said in a statement.

We really want to manage people’s experiences in a healthy way by giving them guidance ...