Raising awareness of PTSD
A few years ago, a friend of mine was the first responder on scene at a motor vehicle accident. She provided first aid to a child, just a little older than her own, until the ambulance arrived. She never learned the outcome for that child.
A small moment in time — an hour or two out of a busy life — but that experience changed her. She had nightmares and intrusive thoughts. She relived the events over and over in her mind. She avoided driving, and grew anxious at the sight of a child the same age and sex as the one she treated.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental disorder that will affect around eight per cent of Canadians during their lifetime. Sometimes it is triggered by a one-time event like my friend faced, other times by an ongoing situation. People who have faced abuse, violence, war or displacement are especially at risk, as are people who work in specific fields, such as the military, emergency services, policing, corrections, victim’s services, health care and social work.
June 29 is PTSD Awareness Day. Many people who have PTSD go undiagnosed because they are unaware of the symptoms. They suffer alone. The good news is that there are many resources available, and treatments that have helped thousands of people. PTSD doesn’t have to define you. Go to ahs.ca/amh to learn more, and join us on June 29 to spread the word about this important health topic.
My friend, by the way, is doing well now. With the help of treatment and time she no longer suffers from that incident, and she always makes sure her First Aid certification is up to date in case she ever needs it again.
June is also the month that we mark Pride, and in Lethbridge this is one of the biggest events of the year! Congratulations to Lethbridge Pride Fest and all of their committed partners for another wonderful festival. There were dances, a church service, a solidarity march for transgender rights, in-depth discussions on health and social issues, movie and games nights, awards, and of course a parade. I loved every event I participated in, and appreciated the chance to do so.
Conservative leaders and MLAs hide from Pride, but I believe that elected people have to stand up and stand for our communities. The vandalism of the rainbow and trans flag crosswalks shows us that, as far as we have come, there is still more work to be done. We have expanded human rights protections and stood up for inclusion in schools, and we are listening to you to determine what is next. Thank you to the community organizations, businesses, and families who participated in Pride, and who work for inclusion every week of the year.
Canada Day is right around the corner, and you may have noticed it’s a big one this year! 150 years since Confederation, a small part of the 10,000-plus years of history of people on this land. There are always a lot of things to do on Canada Day in Lethbridge, and you can find the list at www.lethbridge.ca.
Speaking of important birthdays, did you know our library system is 25 years old? Congratulations to the Chinook Arch Regional Library System on a quarter-century of great work. More than just books, the library is a community hub and service provider. Check out their events and programs at
www.lethlib.ca or www.chinookarch.ca. If you want to reach me, please contact my office at 403-329-4644, Lethbridge.west@assembly.ab.ca, or stop by at 402 8 St. S. Have a great summer, maybe I’ll see you at the Henderson or Westminster outdoor pools!