This is the first of a series of CTIP communications that will be released as circumstance warrants. As indicated in the work of VTRA, “the better the data, the better the assessment and the better the assessment, the better the intervention”. As professionals from multiple disciplines across the country, and beyond, are sharing our expertise, we are also learning that the current COVID-19 crisis has some uniqueness specific to our generation especially around more disperse transmission due to modern travel and exponentially higher anxiety due to media and social media coverage.
In the aftermath of the tragic death of Hamilton, Ontario youth Devan Bracci-Selvey, many school districts across the country have noted a growing concern from parents and caregivers about bullying. In the 10th edition of the community VTRA protocol we added three new categories for action:
THE CONTEXT FOR THIS ALERT IS THE REALIZATION THAT SOCIETAL ANXIETY IS SO HIGH THAT WE MUST GUARD AGAINST PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MAY BECOME TRAUMATICALLY CLOSED AND UNDERREACT TO BLATANT PRE-INCIDENT SIGNS AND INDICATORS. THIS ALERT IS A WAKE-UP CALL.
WE ARE RECEIVING NUMEROUS CALLS AND EMAILS WITH QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS REGARDING THE MAY 18, 2018 RELEASE OF THE SECOND SEASON OF THE NETFLIX SERIES “13 REASONS WHY”. FOR THIS SEASON, THE PRODUCERS ARE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE A MORE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE APPROACH BY PROVIDING CONTENT WARNINGS AHEAD OF EACH EPISODE. THE SERIES DOES HIGHLIGHT THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUTH WHO ARE BYSTANDERS TO SUCH INCIDENTS AND DO NOT REPORT THEM TO AN ADULT, AND ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS A MYRIAD OF OTHER TOPICS SUCH AS RAPE, SEXUAL ABUSE, BULLYING, SUBSTANCE USE AND THREAT RELATED BEHAVIOURS.
HIGH PROFILE TRAUMA ON APRIL 6TH, 2018 AT LEAST 15 LIVES WERE LOST AND MANY OTHERS WERE INJURED IN A TRAGIC COLLISION INVOLVING THE WELL-BELOVED HUMBOLDT BRONCOS. ALL WERE PART OF THE HUMBOLDT FAMILY AND THE LOCAL RESPONSE TO THE TRAGEDY IS UNFATHOMABLE AT THIS TIME. SEVERAL PLAYERS ON THE TEAM ARE FROM OUTSIDE SASKATCHEWAN INCLUDING ALBERTA AND MANITOBA MAKING THIS A WESTERN CANADIAN TRAUMATIC EVENT. HOWEVER, WITH HOCKEY BEING SO DEAR TO THE HEARTS OF CANADIANS AND OTHER TRAGEDIES WITH SIMILARITIES FROM THE PAST, WE ARE ALREADY SEEING A “REKINDLING” OF TRAUMA SYMPTOMS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
