The citizen leadership team at MacNeill secondary are doing something a little different to mark Remembrance Day this year.
As much as they respect the traditional tips of the hat to the First and Second World wars, the students wanted to fast forward to an issue affecting people right here, right now.
That’s why the team — made up of Grade 10, 11 and 12 students — came up with the idea of focusing on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
And with the help of the program’s facilitator, chemistry and science teacher Tuzar Irani, the group will deliver its PTSD presentation to the school at its Remembrance Day ceremony.
“They looked into the statistics and all the background information and researched a couple of videos,” said Irani.
“They also looked into how people worked through PTSD and came out the other side. I wanted them to be sensitive to the topic, but not all just doom and gloom.
“I love it, I think it’s a great idea; it really deals with some of the after-effects of the war.”
Irani, however, did caution the students to be wary not to step on people’s toes.
“They had to be careful, because PTSD extends beyond veterans; people from all walks of life suffer from it,” he added.
“(These events are) usually about World War I and II, but I wanted them to focus on what is happening right now because kids are often trapped inside their bubbles; they need to know what’s out there.
“Some of the team had never even come across the subject; but they’ve really taken a sense of ownership of it. I’m really looking forward to it.”
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, or learning that a traumatic event has happened to a loved one.
