Press Release
**For Immediate Release**

June 18, 2003

 >From the Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence (PWHCE)
Services fall short in addressing PTSD for state immigrant, refugee and
racialized women

New study proposes changes

A new report recommends changes to the way governments and service agencies
work with women who have post traumatic stress reactions.

“Many immigrant, refugee and racialized women experience reactions to past
life experiences. Healing from this stress will enable them to live better
lives in Canada,” says Francisca Omordion, President of Immigrant, Refugee
and Visible Minority Women of Saskatchewan (IRVMWS), and co-researcher.
'Women and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Moving Research to Policy' is the
second study on this topic funded by the Prairie Women’s Health Centre of
Excellence.

Immigrant, refugee and racialized women and health care providers identified
changes needed to address PTSD. Recommendations focused on 9 areas:
1. Creating a Multidisciplinary Coordinating Team on PTSD.
2. Improving public understanding.
3. Need to integrate information relating to PTSD into curriculum for
English as a Second Language students and other students.
4. Training for service providers on recognizing and working with immigrant,
refugee and racialized women with post traumatic stress.
5. Improvements to service delivery.
6. Improving quality of physician care, by modifying physician billing.
7. Recognizing foreign credentials and providing training opportunities to
facilitate workforce participation by immigrant, refugee and racialized
women, especially in the health care workforce.
8. Enhancements to English as a Second Language Training.
9. Better ways to deal with violence and family breakdown for immigrant,
refugee and racialized women.

“The research showed that awareness of PTSD had increased from our previous
study. However, health care professionals identified a need for training to
recognize PTSD symptoms and on effective methods for recovering from the
condition," observed Judy White, co-researcher and professor at the
University of Regina’s Faculty of Social Work.
“Post Traumatic Stress is a normal reaction to extreme life events. But it
can greatly affect a woman’s life for many years,” states Francisca Isi
Omordion. “Governments and social service agencies need to pay attention and
find better ways to assist women with PTSD.”

Immigrant, Refugee and Visible Minority Women of Saskatchewan was the lead
community organization conducting the research in partnership with
university researchers. IRVMWS will be taking the recommendations forward to
governments, educational institutions and service delivery organizations.
The launch of the report will be held on June 21 at 1:15 ­ 2:30 P.M. at Room
G 30, Saint Paul’s Hospital, 230 Avenue R South, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
The report will be available in PDF format http://www.pwhce.ca

For more details or interviews contact:
Joanne Havelock, Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence
Regina, Saskatchewan, Email: [log in to unmask] Phone: (306) 585-5727, Fax:
(306) 585-5872
Cell: (306) 529-5749

Anna Mambo, Public Relations Officer, IRVMWS, Inc. Provincial
Residence: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Telephone (306) 477-0582, Cell (306)
341-9015

Francisca Isi Omorodion, President, IRVMWS Inc., Provincial
2248 Lorne Street, Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2M7
Telephone: (306) 359-6523, Fax: (306) 522-9952, Email: [log in to unmask]
Website: http://www.irvm.org/

Immigrant, Refugee and Visible Minority Women of Saskatchewan (IRVMWS) works
to raise public awareness about issues affecting immigrant, refugee and
visible minority women and promotes the participation of the women in
Canadian society. IRVMWS provides educational opportunities, counseling and
language classes and administers the Health of Immigrant Children Project.
IRVMWS undertakes research and public advocacy activities on issues
concerning IRVM women and networks with other equity seeking organizations.

The Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence (PWHCE) funds
community-based research on the social factors affecting women’s health in
Manitoba and Saskatchewan. To date the Centre has supported over 60
projects dealing with a wide range of issues, for women from many
backgrounds. PWHCE‘s current research is focusing on Aboriginal women, women
living in poverty and women living in rural and remote areas. PWHCE studies
are available at: http://www.pwhce.ca/


Mona Dupré-Ollinik, BSW, BA
Coordonatrice de liaison/Outreach Coordinator
Canadian Women's Health Network/Réseau canadien pour la santé des femmes
419, avenue Graham, Suite 203
Winnipeg (MB) R3C 0M3

Tel: (204) 942-5500 ext,/poste 13
Fax/Télécopieur: (204) 989-2355
Toll free/Numéro sans frais: 1-888-818-9172
www.cwhn.ca
e-mail/courriel: [log in to unmask]

TTY 204-942-2806
TTY toll free number 1-866-694-6367

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