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Hi my name is Kat Kinn, I am the founder of PTSD Peer Support.
Most of 2023 and I was thinking of taking my own life. Thinking of suicide was a daily contemplation. I suffered PTSD from a workplace incident in July 2021 and in January 2023 I had given up all hope of ever recovering. My spouse was struggling to financially support us and I had 2 failed attempts to reintegrate into the workforce. I felt like a burden. We could no longer afford for me to see a psychologist and I found myself depressed and alone on our rural property. One day it occurred to me that I couldn't be the only person experiencing this. I started to think what would we need to help support us and what ever it was it would need to be free. The ideas started to flow and 3 really good friends encouraged me and helped me to make this resource into reality.
I am raising funds to keep PTSD Peer Support, community for people with PTSD, anxiety and depression as a free resource. What we currently do:
ONLINE:
Available online 7 days a week, 365 days a year, at various event times, for 1 hour. Benefits,
1. Bridges the isolation gap by connecting individuals with lived and living experience of PTSD for mutual support in a compassionate wellness focused community
2. Daily support between therapy sessions. This helps to keep people resilient for the days between therapy sessions. It also helps to remind and encourage participants to practice the strategies their therapist has provided as part of a person’s treatment plan.
4. Easy to access and connect with others who are recovering or have recovered from PTSD which can inspire a sense of hope.
5. The geographical location of a person does not limit their capacity to access this peer support network. (PPS uses zoom video conferencing platform for daily meet-ups for online or there is a phone number so people can telephone in and participate if they don’t have internet access)
6. Get to hear others experiences of recovery and offer mutual understanding and support.
MASTERCLASSES: Health Professionals and Holistic (yoga)
We invite health professionals to deliver evidence based Information Masterclasses on related topics in easy to understand language. They cover topics beneficial to recovery and resilience and how to work towards wellness and improve our lives.
It also provides an opportunity for people who can not afford to see a Psychologist or therapist to have access to helpful clinical information.
CAFE CONNECT:
Once a week held at different cafes. 1 hour coffee meet-up face to face. Benefits,
1. Help people to increase their window of tolerance in a supportive an understanding environment as the reintegrate into life.
2. Bridge the isolation gap that tends to happen with PTSD
3. Increase a person’s network of supportive people that understand the impacts of PTSD.
4. Because others attending the Café Connect event have lived experience of PTSD they understand the courage and anxiety associated with reintegrating back into public and social life. They celebrate these milestones with each other.
5. These face-to-face events provide a great opportunity for people with PTSD to increase resilience in a mutually supportive gathering.
PODCAST:
Starting in December 2024 we will be starting a podcast with Health Professionals, People with lived experience of PTSD to share their recovery stories. The focus will be topics and guests related to working towards better mental health.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE to see more of what we are up to.
If you want to help us achieve our mission we would be grateful for any gifts be they financial or offer of your professional skills.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Organizer
