A new support group is coming to Drayton Valley to help out those who suffer from PTSD.
OSI-CAN (Operational Stress Injury/Post Traumatic Stress Support Initiative) is hosting a town hall on March 28 at the Drayton Valley Legion Hall. It begins at 7 p.m.
OSI-CAN is a named project of the Canadian Mental Health Association. It is a free, confidential, community-based peer support program for military members, first responders, and public safety personnel.
Kelly Glendinning, a retired RCMP officer, is one of the organizers working to bring OSI-CAN to Drayton Valley. Having been diagnosed with PTSD herself, she says that speaking about your struggles in a group setting is very helpful.
“What I found most therapeutic – well, not most therapeutic, but very therapeutic for me – was being able to talk to a peer,” says Glendinning. “Someone that has gone through some of the similar things that I have gone through and just understands. You cannot replace that.”
Glendinning was originally from Vancouver, and moved to Drayton Valley. She found fellow PTSD sufferers James Trenholm and Mike Skinner, and together they started working to establish an OSI-CAN group.
In addition to offering support, OSI-CAN can help connect you with other programs, such as service dog acquisition and equine programs. Glendinning says they already have a volunteer to help them establish an equine program.
“She loves horses, and she loves the idea of families and children taking part in the therapy,” explains Glendinning.
But Glendinning wants to emphasize that their main objective is offering peer support.
“It is really a good way to just unload,” says Glendinning. “It does not have to be about the trauma. We try not to talk about the trauma. We just support each other.”
To learn more about OSI-CAN, you can visit their website. To find out more information about March 28’s town hall, you can call Glendinning at 778-808-2365.
Comments