According to AllPsych Online, the DSM lists the symptoms of PTSD as including "re-experiencing the trauma through nightmares, obsessive thoughts, and flashbacks (feeling as if you are actually in the traumatic situation again). There is an avoidance component as well, where the individual avoids situations, people, and/or objects which remind him or her about the traumatic event (e.g., a person experiencing PTSD after a serious car accident might avoid driving or being a passenger in a car). Finally, there is increased anxiety in general, possibly with a heightened startle response (e.g., very jumpy, startle easy by noises)."
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition - Text Revision (DSMIV-TR). (May 15, 2004). In Allpsych Online. Retrieved from http://allpsych.com/disorders/anxiety/ptsd.html
While looking for resources for refugees in Canada with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, I found there wasn’t much out there. Most of the resources relating to PTSD were for people in the military coming back from war. I find it kind of odd that there is so much help for the people fighting the wars, but not much for the victims fleeing it.
When refugees arrive in this country, there is so much to deal with: a new culture, and setting up new lives. Dealing with what they have been through can be pushed to the side. Even up to 14 years later, there is still an important association between trauma and the risk of mental illness. (Steel et al., 2002)
In my opinion, there is a significant lack of long term mental health support for refugees coming to Canada. This deficiency needs to be remedied by creating more programs and services to help refugees with long term mental health issues like PTSD.
Steel, Z., Silove, D., Phan, T., and Bauman, A. (2002). Long-term effect of psychological
trauma on the mental health of Vietnamese refugees resettled in
Australia: A population-based study. The Lancet, 360(October 5), 1056–1062.
Stacey T.
That is unfortunate that there isn't much information out there about this. your quote, "...there is so much help for the people fighting the wars, but not much for the victims fleeing it" I completly agree with. Very well said. There needs to be way more inforation on the risks that the refugees are dealing with.
ReplyDelete- Samantha G
Your blog brings up some good points! I agree that it is odd that there are more resources for people in the war than for those who are escaping the war. On one of my blogs I tried to look for resources available for people who hoard but was disappointed to find that there weren't. It seems like the creation of resources would benefit refugees but only if society was better educated about the situations that flee from. Great post!
ReplyDeleteAlexis B.
Hey that is really to bad that there isn't more information on immigrants and PTSD. Its strange- I think in Winnipeg it is certainly something that should be more researched. I've met a person from Rwanda, and he actually told me a bit about what happened there and it is a lot to deal with on your own. Also there is some racism here the cops pulled that guy over all the time, imagine if someone had a violent flashback when the cops were aggressively questioning them? Well if you go onto Social Work maybe that could be your masters thesis?
ReplyDeleteD.Hayward
You've really done a great job of pointing out an area of mental health that is largely overlooked and is lacking in resources. I might just use this topic for a needs assessment in the near future. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteRachel Ryan-Dorn
I recently posted a blog entry about the lack of culturally appropriate health care options for immigrants in Canada. I never thought about the issue of PTSD though, but it makes so much sense. As well as having to see doctors who dont understand their culture, religion, history and economic issues, this group of people often bring with them many past experiences which largely go misunderstood in our country. Having people to talk to who have shared the same kind of expereinces would likely be very helpful and comforting. It is evident that Canada does not have enough of these types of services.
ReplyDeleteCrystal M.