How to Survive PTSD and Build Peer Support

In “How to Survive PTSD and Build Peer Support ” Sylvio Gravel has taken addressing Trauma and PTSD issues, along with building peer support to a recruiting / training / teaching / management level. It features not only all the great information found in “56 Seconds” but now with excerpts by Dr. Anna B. Baranowsky and Teresa Lauer LMHC, from their work entitled “WHAT IS PTSD? 3 STEPS TO HEALING TRAUMA” who provide insight into: • What is PTSD? • 3 Essential Steps to Healing Trauma • Types of Trauma • And so much more…. There are also new sections, including expanded experiences from our Spouses, and sincere and heart-felt “Survivor’s Testimonials” on how to live with and move on in life with PTSD by : • OPP Inspector (ret’d) Bruce Kruger, • OPP Constable (ret’d) William Bromilow and • Ottawa Police Service Constable (ret’d) Peter Platt For emergency services trainers and recruiters, college and university professors, “How to Survive PTSD and Build Peer Support” Sylvio shares his 25 years of survivor experience and 10 years as officer-in-charge of recruiting and training to address has insight & training points to help building resilience to trauma such as: • How misunderstanding the work’s competencies can leave people struggling to survive the job; • How personality traits influence work relationships and peer support ability; • And so much more…. For Chiefs, CEO’s and Managers, “How to Survive PTSD and Build Peer Support” also contains 5 key questions that should absolutely be considered to ensure the well-being of their employees, including retired members in relation to trauma and PTSD. Certification and survivor experience – required or not? This edition also delves into the discussion, led by Mr. John Robertson of FORTLOG Service Inc, as to whether or not it is absolutely necessary for peers to have survivor experience and/or certification. And the touchy issue of trying to decide what training to get, once that decision has been made.

In “How to Survive PTSD and Build Peer Support ” Sylvio Gravel has taken addressing Trauma and PTSD issues, along with building peer support to a recruiting / training / teaching / management level. It features not only all the great information found in “56 Seconds” but now with excerpts by Dr. Anna B. Baranowsky and Teresa Lauer LMHC, from their work entitled “WHAT IS PTSD? 3 STEPS TO HEALING TRAUMA”, who provide valuable insight as to: • What is PTSD? • 3 Essential Steps to Healing Trauma • Types of Trauma • How the Brain and the Body Work After Trauma • The Mind-Body Connection • And so much more…. There are also new sections, including expanded experiences from our Spouses, and sincere and heart-felt “Survivor’s Testimonials” on how to live with and move on in life with PTSD by : • OPP Inspector (ret’d) Bruce Kruger, • OPP Constable (ret’d) William Bromilow and • Ottawa Police Service Constable (ret’d) Peter Platt, Founder & Editor of Badge of Life Canada & Breast Cancer Survivor. For emergency services trainers and recruiters, college and university professors, “How to Survive PTSD and Build Peer Support” has insight & training points to address building resilience to trauma: • How misunderstanding the work’s competencies, can leave people struggling to survive the job; • Understanding the body-mind link; • How personality traits influence work relationships and peer support ability; • How perceptions can take over reality, interfering with the ability to stay grounded; • How we allow the “Breach of Contract”; • The responsibility of authority; • The Value of the Voluntary Mental Health Check. For Chiefs, CEO’s and Managers, “How to Survive PTSD and Build Peer Support” also contains: • 5 key questions that should absolutely be considered to ensure the well-being of their employees, including retired members in relation to trauma and PTSD. Certification and survivor experience – required or not? This edition also delves into the discussion, led by Mr. John Robertson of FORTLOG Service Inc, as to whether or not it is absolutely necessary for peers to have survivor experience and/or certification. And the touchy issue of trying to decide what training to get, once that decision has been made.

A 31 year veteran and former Staff Sergeant of the Ottawa Police Service, Syd Gravel is one of the founding fathers of Robin’s Blue Circle, a post-shooting trauma team that assists officers work their way through the trauma of death or near-death work related incidents first established in 1988. He has personally assisted many officers survive near-death incidents since then. Syd was inducted as a Member of the Order Of Merit (M.O.M.) in Policing in 2007. In 2012, Syd shared his experiences in a book entitled, “56 Seconds” and in 2013 he now shares his recruitment and training perspective to addressing trauma in “How to Survive PTSD and Build Peer Support”.