Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Question: How does this relate to OSI-CAN and PEER Support?

Peer Support along with all the Clinical Support hopefully provides a new reference point, a new start, even though it may begin with baby steps. We all have individual starting points and how we move forward is the key.

I know in my personal life it is easy to get stuck at the Y in the road. To me that decision to move left or right is the difficult part. Once I make that decision based on all the pluses and minuses, along with other common-sense factors I am able to move forward.

Prairies to Peaks provides a template.

FIVE STEPS TO PROBLEM SOLVING … A problem is a situation or set of conditions that are preventing you from doing what you want to do.

1. PROBLEM: Clearly identify and state the problem

2. IMPACT: Identify how you are impacting the problem

3. COST/BENEFIT: Explore the pros and cons of solving the problem

4. BRAINSTORM: Come up with 3-5 ways to address the problem

5. ACTION: Pick 1-2 ways to begin to address the problem and create an action plan

HOPE. The belief that you have the ability, the opportunity and the supports to engage in the recovery process and develop your meaning and purpose in life.

These are weekly topics that can be considered prior to our group meeting. It is meant to be available as a topic of discussion during the group meeting or for someone physically unable to attend the meeting but available to discuss via text, phone or just simple reflection.

Peer Support Group Leader, Leigh

Realistic Goal Setting

This topic surfaced a couple of weeks ago during our Peer Support Meeting. The discussion was in setting realistic goals each day. The focus was making sure the goal was achievable. It didn’t matter how small the goal but it could be done. It might be getting up at a certain time. It might be to step outside for a short time. It might be having a shower to start your day, having a bubble bath or washing the dishes.

In this way the process begins to build self-worth and confidence. This leads to creating slivers of HOPE.

Quite awhile ago one of the members talked about creating positives by viewing things as half-full as opposed to half empty. This direction is what Peer Support is all about and the Road to Recovery.

What does this mean to you?

Peer Support Group Leader, Leigh

Our mission is to inspire hope and contribute to the continuous well-being and recovery process of Veterans and Front Line Protectors across Canada.

We seek to empower and encourage them to strive for recovery through peer and professional support while creating greater public awareness.

We at OSI-CAN do not see PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a Disorder, we see it as an Injury you can recover from. If you are suffering from the symptoms of an Occupational or Operational Stress Injury, then a PTSD or PTSI diagnosis is not required to get our help

The target demographic of OSI-CAN are but are not limited to: former and serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Allied Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Frontline Protectors --- which include Municipal Police Services, CN Police Services, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Protection Services, Wildland Firefighters, Hospital Trauma personnel, Nurses, healthcare Workers, Social Workers, Animal Control Officers, Coroners, Indigenous Emergency Management, Victim Services Personnel, Emergency Communications Specialist, Corrections Officers, “Volunteer” First Responders, Conservation Officers, Aboriginal Emergency Services personnel, Tow Truck drivers who clean up accident scenes and their spouses/partners. This demographic was chosen due to the commonality of experiences they share through the service they provide to the country and community. We have a special interest and support volunteer first responders as they are not eligible for programs such as Workers' Compensation.

What If ...

On a personal reflection. I found occasionally I drifted on the ‘what if’ rather than recognizing what if is out of my control. Focusing on what if has no value. I can recall early in my policing career thinking of the what if and quickly realized I had no control over what might or could happen and I was wasting valuable energy. My best response was to accept I only had control of me and to put what if in my rear view mirror. To remain focused on the areas I actually had control of which was to accept I could control my own destiny and to only deal with what if only, when it became a reality. Then to take it as a challenge to be overcome. The saying ‘If its to be, it's up to me’ certainly applies.