A program to increase awareness of PTSD was launched yesterday.
Mental Illness Education ACT has developed workshops in collaboration with Melbourne University, Phoenix Australia, local organisations, and mental health consumers.
“When people are living with the effects of trauma or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, they are often told ‘not to think about it’,” a spokesperson said.
“But these words are as meaningful as showing someone an elephant and telling them not to think about elephants. That approach, however, is changing thanks to a new education program launched yesterday.”
Mental Illness Education ACT (MIEACT) built a pyramid made up of 500 ‘stress-ball’ elephants at the Canberra Museum and Gallery to launch their PTSD Awareness program. The new program uses short films based on the lived experience of people living with PTSD and yes, the films do feature elephants.
PTSD, as a disorder, impacts on approximately one-in-ten of the non-military Australian. Motor vehicle accidents and sexual assault are the two most common traumatic events likely to lead to PTSD.
“The PTSD program keeps real voices and stories at the core of the program and the films highlight the broad range of ways people are initially traumatised,” said Sam Davidson Fulller, MEIACT Executive officer.
“We continue to receive overwhelming positive feedback from participants regarding the strength and effectiveness of these stories.”
More information on the MIEACT website: mieact.org.au
[Photo by Caitlin Welch]
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