Dr. Julia Riddell
Communications Director
Manitoba Psychological Society
jriddell@ierha.ca
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2022
MPS Statement on the Impacts of War and Resources for Affected Individuals and Care Providers
War in many countries around the world is having and will continue to have adverse mental health effects on individuals and communities. The board members of the Manitoba Psychological Society would like members of the affected communities to know that we are thinking of all of you. We stand with those who are directly exposed to armed conflict, those displaced from their homes and countries, those providing care and protection to civilians, friends and family members, and the diaspora around the globe who continue to struggle for safety, peace, and human rights.
Military aggression brings no benefit to humanity but exacts tremendous human costs. These costs are immediate in the loss of life, and long term in the psychological, social, economic, and environmental impacts on people, families and societies. This is an action in which nobody wins. We stand in solidarity with those who are committed to living in peace, with respect for the dignity of all the world’s peoples. We join our international partners in the Global Psychology Alliance in decrying acts of aggression, including the recent aggression against the people of Ukraine.
The MPS supports the care of all immigrants, refugees, and displaced persons with dignity and respect, and strongly advocates for the provision of evidence-based and culturally-competent mental health support for those affected through early interventions to mitigate the distress and the treatment of mental health conditions that may arise.
Resources for youth, families, front line workers or others supporting those affected by war or disaster:
- Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
- Psychological First Aid for Displaced Children and Families
- Traumatic Separation and Refugee and Immigrant Children: Tips for Current Caregivers
- Talking to Children About War
- Managing the Stress of Children after a Crisis
- Post Disaster Stress Management for Parents
- For Helping Communities and Families Recover after a Disaster
If you would like to interview a Clinical Psychologist for further information on this topic, Dr. Julia Riddell, Communications Director of the Manitoba Psychological Society can be contacted at jriddell@ierha.ca.
The Manitoba Psychological Society (MPS) is a non-profit organization of Manitoba psychologists founded in 1966. Its purpose is to further the use of psychology, as a science and profession, in the service of human health, welfare, and quality of life. MPS advocates for the use of psychological knowledge in the formulation of public policy and in the implementation of services for the public in addition to promoting the advancement of psychological education, research, and training.