VICARIOUS TRAUMA-HELP FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS

Those who work with difficult and traumatic events as part of a job can through the nature of the work start to experience vicarious trauma.What does this mean? Basically it is the emotions, thoughts and reactions of the worker who through the work relate to the events of trauma with the victims or survivors.Witnessing, hearing the stories and counselling others can have an impact over time on the helper.

With the recent events in Alberta where so many people are affected, it brought to light a wonderful book on the subject. "In the Line of Fire-Trauma in the Emergency Services" written by two very skilled Canadians Cheryl Regehr and Ted Bober. Both very involved in the GTA Crisis management team at the Pearson Airport as well as a wealth of experiences in their fields.. Dr. Regehr has been a professor and writer at the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. She is now the Provost for the University. I first heard her talk on Canada AM after September 11th where she was one of many experts from a variety of fields addressing the concerns. Her knowledge of grief, trauma and survival impressed me. The book addressed the issues of trauma especially the studies with firemen, police and others dealing with the front lines of tragedies. Usefull studies as well as ways to survive and deal with the emotions and feelings that surface from such events.

There are many books on surviving Post Traumtic Stress Syndrome useful to clinicians. I have a workbook with exercises to use with patient or clients. Hopefully those dealing with the fires do have Employee Assistance Programs at the their workplaces to be available to debrief and guide the first responders in recovery from the work.

Here in Ontario we have some legislation that now recognizes PTSD with firemen and police and other disciplines that could suffer from it. It allows through Workers Safety Insurance Board to recognize PTSD as a disability. Think about the sadness of many of our soldiers in the past two years who have committed suicide. PTSD is insidious and works at the souls of people. Whether directly experiencing the trauma or helping those who have experienced it taking ownership of all the feelings and emotions will enable the workers to deal with it effectively. PTSD for those directly involved and vicarious trauma for the workers around events.