How do emergencies and disasters affect mental health — and where can you turn for support?

For many, psychological distress during and after a crisis is temporary. But for others, it can lead to lasting challenges like depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress injury (PTSI) or disorder (PTSD), moral injury, or increased substance use. Some people also experience anticipatory anxiety — the stress of knowing they may face traumatic events.

That’s why the Trauma & Recovery Research Unit at McMaster University is launching the Canadian Emergency Response Psychosocial Support Network, or CanEMERG. This is a national hub for mental health guidance and resources designed to help people and communities through crises and disasters.

Join Dr. Margaret McKinnon, Principal Investigator of the TRRU, for this free event. Learn about this new initiative, why it’s urgently needed, and how it can support those on the front lines of emergencies.

The symposium will feature:

• A presentation by Dr. Alexandra Heber (Veterans Affairs Canada) about the impacts of disasters on mental health.
• A discussion, moderated by Dr. Heber, featuring Christine Blair, mayor of Colchester, NS, which endured a mass casualty event in 2020, and Mathew Conte, who combats wildfires as fire chief and director of emergency management for Jasper, AB.
• A presentation by University of Regina’s Dr. Nick Carleton about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the lives and well-being of Canadians.
• A discussion featuring Dr. Carleton along with Mary Fetchet — a mother of a 9/11 victim who went on to co-found an organization for community healing — and Dr. Karen Collins, who will address the planning, response, and ethics of mass victimization incidents.
• An introduction to the CanEMERG website and its online guidance and resources.
• Audience Q&A sessions will follow each discussion period.

Use this link to register your attendance.

CanEMERG is produced by the Trauma & Recovery Research Unit at McMaster University. Financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada.