Wounded Warriors Canada and the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families have launched a course for health professionals on caring for traumatized front-line personnel, including Veterans and first responders. The course, developed by Dr. Tim Black, aims to enhance care by shifting perspectives and teaching emotional regulation techniques. Over 350 professionals have enrolled, with the first 500 receiving it free. This initiative addresses the long-standing need for better mental health support in these communities.
Calgary Veteran Tegh Singh cycles to military monuments on Remembrance Day to raise posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) awareness. He talks about how Remembrance can be a painful time of year, especially given the isolation of the pandemic. This isolation one of the focuses of a new study being conducted by the Lawson Health Research Institute and the Centre of Excellence on PTSD (now known as the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families) on the impact of the pandemic on Veterans and their spouses.
Experts in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the military say the pandemic created circumstances for the development of moral injury and PTSD among front-line health care workers, similar to those experienced in the military. The Centre for Excellence on PTSD (now known as the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families) emphasizes early intervention and has created a guide to address the issue of moral injury.
A new study, conducted by the Lawson Health Research Institute in London, Ont., in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (now known as the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families), aims to investigate the impact of the pandemic on Canadian Veterans and their partners. The study seeks to understand how the pandemic is affecting the overall well-being of Canadian Veterans and their spouses through online surveys. The goal is to use the information to better support the wellness of Veterans and their Families during public health emergencies.
The Lawson Health Research Institute in London, Ont. is partnering with the Centre of Excellence on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (now known as the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families) in Ottawa on a study investigating the impact of COVID-19 on Canada’s Veterans. The studyalso aims to examine the coping mechanisms of spouses of Veterans, who take on significant caregiving responsibilities. It will also examine risk factors, such as job losses or reduced hours, and the types of support needed to prevent further distress.
In 2012, while in Afghanistan, Canadian soldier Brian McKenna faced moral challenges when he had to let child traffickers pass during vehicle searches for explosives. This experience, among others, led to his diagnosis of moral injury, a psychological harm stemming from actions or situations that conflict with one’s ethical beliefs. Concerns are rising about moral injuries among military personnel, especially with their involvement in COVID-19 responses, such as assisting in long-term care facilities. The Department of National Defence is funding research with the goal of providing insights into this less understood aspect of psychological trauma, distinct from posttraumatic stress disorder.
