Do minds need ‘first aid’?

A free class that answers that question is open to all residents of Canyon Lake and will be held Saturday, January 30, from 9 a.m. to noon in the City Multi-purpose Room/Council Chamber. “Psychological First Aid After a Disaster and PTSD” will be taught by Canyon Lake residents Bob Ireland, MD, and Mary Craton, RN. (The free class counts for Continuing Education credits for registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses and physician assistants.)

According to www.ptsd.ne.gov, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a life-threatening events such as natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, military combat, or physical or sexual assault in adult or childhood.

Most survivors of trauma return to normal given a little time. However, some people will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own or may even get worse over time. These individuals may develop PTSD. People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person’s daily life.

According to www.ptsd.ne.gov, people with PTSD experience three different kinds of symptoms. The first set of symptoms involves reliving the trauma in some way such as becoming upset when confronted with a traumatic reminder or thinking about the trauma when one is trying to do something else.

The second set of symptoms involves either staying away from places or people that remind one of the trauma, isolating from other people or feeling numb.

The third set of symptoms includes things such as feeling on guard, irritable or startling easily.

PTSD is marked by clear biological changes as well as psychological symptoms. It is complicated by the fact that people with PTSD often may develop additional disorders such as depression, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognition, and other problems of physical and mental health. The disorder is also associated with impairment of the person’s ability to function in social or family life, including occupational instability, marital problems and divorces, family discord, and difficulties in parenting.

PTSD can be treated with psychotherapy (‘talk’ therapy) and medicines such as antidepressants. Early treatment is important and may help reduce long-term symptoms. Unfortunately, many people do not know that they have PTSD or do not seek treatment.

Sponsored by the Canyon Lake Emergency Preparedness Committee (CLEPC), the content of the class will include basic pathology of PSTD and philosophy of psychological first aid in the aftermath of a disaster. Participants will visit the CLEPC’s Casualty Collection Point at East Port to review procedures, supplies and equipment.

Mary Craton, a longtime member of the CLEPC and former mayor of Canyon Lake, is a registered nurse with a master’s degree and advanced certification in nursing administration. She was a nurse executive at the LA County/USC Medical Center for many years, directing educational activities for 3,000 employees.

Bob Ireland, MD, is retired from the U.S. Air Force as a flight surgeon and has been involved in high-level Department of Defense mental health policy formulation.

To register for this free class, contact Mary Craton at 951-244-7859 or mec336@verizon.net. (ADA compliant. Call 353-7100 for accommodations.) The deadline to register is January 22.