Understanding Trauma and Getting Help: A Guide for Veterans in Alberta

The work of someone in the CAF in Alberta is vital, but it often comes with significant challenges. You put yourselves on the line, and that can leave unseen scars. This article looks at trauma: what it is, how it’s treated, and where to find help in Canada, and specifically Alberta. It’s designed to be a resource for you, recognizing the unique pressures you face.

What is Trauma for a First Responder?

Trauma isn’t just stress. It’s a deep disruption to your emotional and mental well-being caused by events that threaten your life, safety, or moral code. For first responders, this can take many forms:

• Traumatic Events: This includes witnessing death or serious injury, being in dangerous situations, and facing threats to your own life. The intense fear and helplessness from these events can leave lasting effects.

• Moral Injury: This happens when your actions, or the actions you witness, go against your deeply held beliefs. For instance, being unable to save someone, or witnessing an event that goes against yours beliefs. The feelings of guilt, shame, and betrayal can be deeply damaging.

• Sexual Trauma: This involves experiences of sexual assault or harassment. It can happen to anyone and has devastating consequences, leading to feelings of shame, betrayal, and difficulty with relationships.

These types of trauma aren’t mutually exclusive; you may experience one or a combination of them. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a common result of trauma, is significantly higher among first responders than in the general population.

Several factors increase the risk of developing trauma-related mental health issues, including the intensity of situations, and any pre-existing mental health conditions.

Current Best Practices in Trauma Treatment

Today, there are effective treatments to help first responders recover from trauma.

• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): This therapy helps you examine and challenge unhelpful beliefs related to traumatic experiences. It helps you identify distorted thoughts and develop more balanced perspectives, reducing guilt, shame, and fear.

• Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy: PE therapy addresses avoidance. It involves gradually exposing you to trauma-related memories and situations in a safe environment, guided by a therapist. This helps you learn that these reminders aren’t dangerous and that you can cope.

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (like eye movements) while you focus on a traumatic memory. It’s believed this helps process the memory, reducing its emotional intensity.

• Alternative Approaches: Mindfulness, equine therapy, art therapy, and yoga are being explored. Many find them helpful complements to traditional treatments.

• Availability in Canada and Alberta: CPT, PE, and EMDR are considered the best treatments and are available through Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and some provincial healthcare systems. However, access can be challenging in Alberta due to a shortage of trained professionals, leading to long wait times, especially in rural areas.

Challenges and Barriers to Accessing Care

Many Veterans face obstacles in accessing care.

• Systemic Barriers:

  • Wait Times: Long waits for mental health services are a problem. Delays can worsen symptoms.
  • Geographic Disparities: Rural areas, common in Alberta, often lack specialized professionals.
  • Stigma: Mental health stigma remains a problem. The culture of strength can make it hard to admit to struggles.
  • Bureaucracy: Navigating benefits and services can be complex and frustrating.

• Individual Barriers:

  • Reluctance to Seek Help: Some may be reluctant due to stigma, lack of trust, or a belief they should “tough it out.”
  • Lack of Awareness: Some may not know about available resources or recognize their symptoms as trauma-related.
  • Financial Concerns: Costs like travel, childcare, or lost income can be barriers.
  • The Rural/Urban Divide in Alberta: These challenges are amplified in rural areas.

Ongoing Debates and Controversies

• Effectiveness of Therapies: There’s ongoing debate about which therapies are most effective. A personalized approach is often advocated.

• Medication: Medication can help manage symptoms, but it’s generally used with therapy, not as a stand-alone treatment.

• Culture’s Impact: The emphasis on stoicism and self-reliance can affect help-seeking behavior.

• Definition and Diagnosis: Operational stress injuries are defined as any persistent psychological difficulty resulting from operational duties performed. The lines are blurred between this, and PTSD.

Long-Term Outcomes and Impact of Trauma

Untreated trauma can have serious consequences.

• Mental Health Impacts: Chronic PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders can develop. In severe cases, it can lead to suicidal thoughts. Depression in Veterans is higher than the average population.

• Physical Health Consequences: Chronic pain, cardiovascular problems, and weakened immunity can result from the stress of PTSD.

• Social and Occupational Functioning: Trauma can impair relationships, cause social isolation, and make it hard to hold a job.

• Impact on Families: Families can experience stress, anxiety, and relationship problems.

• Canadian Statistics Studies have shown that male veterans face a higher risk of suicide compared to the general population.

Finding Support: Resources for First Responders in Alberta

A range of support systems exist to help.

• Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC): VAC provides benefits and services, including mental health treatment for Veterans and Operational Stress Injury (OSI) clinics.

• Non-Profit Organizations: Many organizations offer peer support, counseling, and other services. Examples include Wounded Warriors Canada [https://woundedwarriors.ca/], the Royal Canadian Legion [https://legion.ca/], and the Canadian Mental Health Association [https://cmha.ca/].

• Peer Support Networks: These groups provide a safe place to connect with others who understand. Examples include the Veterans Transition Network [https://vtncanada.org/] and Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS).

• Community Initiatives Many communities offer support groups and services.

• Alberta-Specific Resources:

  • VAC Operational Stress Injury Clinics: Alberta has two Operational Stress Injury clinics in Alberta, one in Calgary and one in Edmonton.
  • Alberta Health Services: AHS offers mental health services, but access to specialized trauma treatment may be limited, especially in rural areas.
    • Edmonton Garrison Military Family Resource Centre: Provides services focused on the well being of military members and their families. [https://cfmws.ca/edmonton]
  • Canadian Mental Health Association - Alberta Division: Has programs for mental health support for veterans. [https://alberta.cmha.ca/veterans/]

• Evaluating Effectiveness: Challenges remain in ensuring resources are effective and accessible. Efforts are needed to improve coordination, reduce wait times, address stigma, and simplify access. To ensure veterans get the appropriate support they need, ongoing support for organizations for Canadian veterans is essential.

If you’re struggling, don’t wait. Reach out to Responders First. We’re here to connect you with the support and resources you need to heal and thrive. Your well-being is our priority. Contact us today.

Don Davis

15+ years of emergency response experience. Passionate about connecting our first responder communities with critical resources. Author of hundreds of articles and guides on First Responders mental health care. When not responding to emergencies, you can find me playing with my dogs, hiking, or enjoying a good book.