Iqaluit psychologist helps residential school survivors

As people across Canada consider last week's landmark final report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, psychologist Melanie Stubbing is helping residential school survivors and their families deal with the trauma they still face.

"A lot of times people aren't aware of the ways they've been impacted," said the Iqaluit resident.

Stubbing treats her patients at a private practice in Nunavut's capital, with funding from Health Canada.

The program she works withstems from commitments made inthe 2007 residential school settlement agreement andis meant to help survivors and their loved ones deal with the intergenerational trauma caused by the abuse and'cultural genocide' at the schools.

"It can be a relative of a former student, somebodywho lived in the same household, somebody who was the spouse of a former student," Stubbingsaid.

Some of Stubbing's patients have turned to alcohol or drugs to cope and others struggle with flashbacks or "intrusive memories."

Those issues don't just affect the survivors, which is why anyone who lives with them can be eligible for this program.

"If somebody, for example, has experienced trauma at a residential school," she explained, "the symptoms can be so strong that it's very difficult for it not to impact people who are living in the same house."

While not everyone who went to a residential school had a difficult time, Stubbing says emotional trauma is wide-spread and, as with any kind of therapy, building trust with the patients is an important first step.

"I'm sure that there are some people who wouldn't want to see me because they know me," said Stubbing, but "I find that being from here helps speed up the process of building that trusting relationship."

If you attended a residential school, are related to someone who attended one or if you live with a survivor, you may be eligible for the mental health program.

Stubbing says anyone in the North who would like to apply for the program should call1-800-464-8106and leave his or hername, the name of the residential school they or the person they know attendedand their date of birth.