Hello plus Peer Support Forums Question?

[Kanadiana]

Hi,

For starters, no I'm not in this line of work,
but I certainly value and appreciate the work,
risks and losses all of you men and women do for
all of the rest of us across Canada. We all owe you all nothing but respect and gratitude!

I came surfing looking for peer support forums for those in your lines of work for those needing emotional, psychological, and practical support, advice, and info/.

Does anyone in here have any links to good CANADIAN especially (I'm Canadian) and perhaps USA peer forum sites for people in these lines of work?

Any help is greatly appreciated, so that I can pass on thes links to people who might need them.

I myself have issues with ptsd, and I find the best sources and supports for people are with their peer group (like vets with vets/ EMS with EMS etc) Its practical and more helpful.

I connect with people from all walks of life with stress and post trauma issues and want links for networking for obvious reasons.

BTW ... I was living in BC when the wildfires were crazy... we (small town in Kootenays) were on alert but luckily didn't have to be evacuated. Close though :( You people did magnificent work.

Thanks folks :)

[FireEMTGuy]

While these forums are great for support (with the exception of one poster) the best place for peer support is within the department or crew that the individual was working with at the time of the incident. They are the only ones who were there, they can relate to the problem and talk about it openly, and probably all would benifit from the discussion.

A member of the crew or dept trained in CISD is a good resource, or if the department can allow, having a "on call" psychologist or counsellor who is trained in CISD come in and help talk you through it. Most of the time they just let everyone talk.

A couple DOA's ago we had a EMT who was new to the feild and had minimal experience. During the CISD she did not say much and even admitted that "her way of dealing with it" was not talking about it. Our guy trained in CISD attempted to discuss this matter with her but she only reiterated the fact that she didnt want to talk about it.

She later went on to develop into depression and had to seek counseling. TALK ABOUT IT WITH YOUR PEERS!!!

Outside individual help with a trained person or psychologist is also valuable.

My mother happens to be a psychologist who has worked with the Canadian military and PTSD and has helped me immensely in regards to my own experiences and helping me learn about CISD/M and how to help others and conduct informal meetings after the fact.

Resources are all over the net. Search "CISD Critical"

Get a trained person in or send someone out for training on CISD. The best people to talk about these incidents are with the peers you work with.

[Kanadiana]

Originally posted by FireEMTGuy
While these forums are great for support (with the exception of one poster)

Seems every forum has at least one of those pet peeves hey? :( argh!

the best place for peer support is within the department or crew that the individual was working with at the time of the incident. They are the only ones who were there, they can relate to the problem and talk about it openly, and probably all would benifit from the discussion.

Thanks a lot for your time to reply to me. I figure that would be the ideal place to turn as well. BUT ... when things aren't shaping up ideal, another route would be for people to start with anonymous forums if they want to start opening up slowly that they have a problem, before they take it to the crew/boss etc.

Say they're afraid that they would be putting their job at risk to open up and fess up that they are having stress issues that are becoming a problem for them due to cumulative after-effects. Pretty hard to open up to the crew/boss under the circumstances. Stigma is also often an issue. Or these fears are "feared they will be issues once opened up" Talking to peers anonymously could help that person do a reality check about how his/her disclosure would be handled regards job.

A member of the crew or dept trained in CISD is a good resource, or if the department can allow, having a "on call" psychologist or counsellor who is trained in CISD come in and help talk you through it. Most of the time they just let everyone talk.

STIGMA ... how powerful IS that really, about having stress issues with this job group? And how realistic is the fear that a person will be relieved of their job when they open up?

The person I'm particularly trying to find sources of support and info for is from the States ... I know 9/11 has certainly opened up acceptance and education regards ptsd etc ... so I look for American as well as Canadian forums and such.

TALK ABOUT IT WITH YOUR PEERS!!!

I agree 100%

Outside individual help with a trained person or psychologist is also valuable.

My mother happens to be a psychologist who has worked with the Canadian military and PTSD and has helped me immensely in regards to my own experiences and helping me learn about CISD/M and how to help others and conduct informal meetings after the fact.

Lucky to have a Mom who knows this stuff :) I've talked to a number of Vets, especially Vietnam (OUCH) I have no problem relating to how deep combat vets (or disaster survivors, etc ) can be effected ... way down the road. Triggers happen when they do. These days its wonderful the knowledge and support exists as much as it does.

Resources are all over the net. Search "CISD Critical"

Get a trained person in or send someone out for training on CISD. The best people to talk about these incidents are with the peers you work with.

Again ... reality checks ... regards risking loss of job?

I thank you so much.

By the way ... housefires. I've lost relatives to them. So many can be so simply preventd hey? You people must get so angry sometimes. I understand that easily.

Stay safe.

K.

[FireEMTGuy]

Interesting how a department would look down on an individual having stress issues related to such traumatic incidents.

In my opinion a department would accept the fact that they have been at fault for not offering CISD and offer to pay for personal counselling for the individual.

I do applaud you on attempting to get help for whoever it is who needs it. If they do let it build up and it does get to the point where they cannot operate or function as a part of their crew then it only hurts the crew and themselves as a persosn.

Yes, house fires caused due to careless smoking, old wiring, etc etc are all avoidable hazards and are not treated with the respect they require.

Same goes for fatal car accidents where no seatbelts or liquor were involved. So easy to get in the car and drive after a couple drinks, so hard to see your friend die simply because of the one second decision to drive.

[Kanadiana]

I appreciate your help on this.

The guy who "inspired" me to come looking for supports and resources available, happns to be from the States. But I want Canadian info for my own Canadian self and other Canadians.

I agree regards when things effects so that job and crew are effected negatively then its time to take a time out and deal with what th problems are. Especially important when lives depend on your actions.

I gave the guy the link for this site because I expect to be offline and may notbable to follow this thread and pass on anything helpful from it. As a firefighter rescue worker Sateside, he was extremely impressed with what you all have accomplished, and as a tight brother-sister-hood. He said... "I wish I worked there!" I say, once again, I love Canadian people :)

I guess the States don't quite bond and work as tightly and supportively together as you people do. :(

Another issue I think is AGE and STIGMA re mental health issues ... coming out with "mental health issues" when older and it seems that there is almost a searching for reasons to don "out with the old, in with the young" thing.

Regards Canada ... its wonderful to know that a worker can assume that help and support is available when things get "wobbly" for them, from their peers and bosses etc. That makes me think that its not sofortunate or kind stateside ... but I would hope that the aftermath of 9/11 is changing all that so that real tightness and team support and work can be a more powerful force.

Must clear up the phone and make some calls now.
I'll check back later, or as I can.

Staysafe and whole! and thanks again.

K.