It has been known colloquially as yellow fever, battle fatigue, shell shock and combat fatigue. It has been identified for at least a century and a half, but is still not well understood.
Worse, in the milieus where it is most likely to occur, in military and paramilitary situations, it has traditionally been widely, and continues to be somewhat, stigmatized.
We have come a long way from the firing squads that used to execute victims for cowardice.
But even with the recognition of post-traumatic stress disorder as a real thing that even has a biological component to it, dealing with its effects is no easy feat.
That is why Parkland Victims Services (PVS), along with Regina Greystone Bereavement Centre, sponsored a traumatic loss education workshop on the weekend.
Cheryl Tiller, Parkland victims services coordinator, was thrilled to have 74 participants from various walks of life. The group included volunteers from PVS and other victims services organizations, representatives from the Yorkton Tribal Council, funeral home personnel and even some victims of crime.
Presenter Teresa Kendall of Healing Waters Counseling services in Balgonie led the sessions at Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre October 17 and 18, which was donated by Bailey's Funeral Home.
The first session explored what traumatic grief is and how it is different where the definition is: "A state of having suffered the loss of a loved one when grief and mourning over the death is complicated or overpowered by the traumatic stress brought about by its circumstances."
This frequently occurs with the loved ones of murder victims, particularly when trials drag on for long periods of time and penalties wind up being lenient in the eyes of those left behind.
Where session one might be described as theoretical, the second workshop got into the practical space of developing resources and coping and healing strategies.
Finally, the last session spoke to moving forward by means of developing a healing team to cover the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual aspects of healing.
Tiller said the sessions receive a lot of good feedback and people went away with positive feelings that they had learned something.
"I think that people found the information can be used in many facets of life," she said.
Afterward she was even approached by others for help putting on a similar workshop in their communities.
She said she will likely bring it back to Yorkton as well, perhaps opening it up to the public next time.
"I think it would be good for everyone," she said.
