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For Immediate Release: Helping First Responders with PTSD

THE HEALING POWER OF HORSES

Ground-breaking pilot research study finds equine-assisted therapy has profound effect on emergency workers

The PTSD Association of Canada’s release of the study on the benefits of equine-assisted therapy, was released May 19, 2022. As an adjunct therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder, the study has shown remarkable results for first responders dealing with the devastating effects of PTSD.

Quote from Dr. Charles Nelson, Principal Investigator of pilot research study.

“In my career-spanning work with psychological trauma amongst First-Responders, I have always been curious as to why some individuals respond well to conventional therapy and recovery, while others do not. Adjunctive equine therapy shows promising support in shoring the gap in recovery for those First-Responders who do not recover using psychological and/or pharmacological treatment alone. This important pilot study promotes understanding as to the therapeutic value of equine therapy, and its outcomes support the usage of equine therapy among First-responders with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.”

 PTSD is an increasingly urgent topic of concern around the world, affecting a wide range of people including police, firefighters, paramedics, rescue workers, military personnel, journalists, healthcare workers and the public at large, alarmingly amplified by the COVID epidemic. First responders have always been on the front lines of emergencies, but the last few years have increasingly demonstrated just how critical they are to our health and safety. First responders answer the call when others are running away. They are thrown into tragedy, violence, disasters, heartache and trauma every day.

As one participant shared: “Connecting to the horses, they seem to be able to look directly into your soul, they see and feel your pain and emotions.”

  

Media Release: Research Undertaking for First Responders Affected by Operational Stress Injuries (PTSD) .

Promising Research Undertaking for First Responders Affected by Operational Stress Injuries (PTSD) in Southwestern Ontario.

Equine-Assisted Recovery from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among First Responders – A Pilot Study

Research Team:

Charles Nelson, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, Kimberly Dossett, M.Sc., Clinical Psychology Program, Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, Associate Investigator, Yara Ubaidat, Psychology Program, University of Western Ontario, Research Associate

Purpose of Study

The purpose of this study is to examine symptom reduction in first responders who attend an eight-week equine therapy program as an adjunct to trauma-focused psychological treatment. This study will examine perceived benefits of the program to first responders and determine which elements of the equine therapy program that participants found most helpful in reducing symptoms of PTSD. This will help us to better understand the factors that are involved in equine therapy as an adjunctive integrative health modality; which is an area in need of further research. This study is the first in Canada to evaluate adjunctive equine therapy with psychological treatment as usual for First Responders with Post traumatic Stress Disorder.

Who is involved?

EMS Personnel (Paramedics), 

Regional, Provincial, and National Police Officers, and 

Fire-Fighters will be participating in the 8-week Equine Therapy Program. 

Participation is now closed for this pilot research investigation. 

Location and Facility: Belvoir Estate Farm 2475,Gideon Drive,Delaware,ON. For a review of this historical property, 

please visit www.belvoirestatefarm.com/history

Media Liaison: Ute Lawrence (Please contact to arrange site visit and interview) Phone: 226 688 4883 or e-mail: info@belvoirestatefarm.com









CBC Radio's "The Current": PTSD not just a military disorder

Ute Lawrence never went to war and never saw a conflict zone.  But she did find herself on the wrong stretch of highway one September day 13 years ago.  And that's when everything changed. Once of Canada's most deadly highway pileups sent her on a lonely, uncharted journey through the world of PTSD.

Listen to the interview here:  http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=2188143370

National Post: Healing oneself, healing others

Ten years ago, Ute Lawrence was living a full life. An independent woman with a positive outlook who had launched her first magazine publishing business in 1980—a rare thing for a woman to do in those days—she was publisher of Limited Edition magazines, distributed in 23 markets in Canada and the United States. “Between Christmas and New Year’s, I used to write down my goals for the next year and put it in an envelope,” says Ms. Lawrence. “And the next Christmas, I would open it and tick off all the goals I’d achieved.” None were ever left unticked.

Sept. 3, 1999, changed all that, suddenly and horrifically.   Keep reading ...