Dirty boots to clean hands

Back in the early spring of 1994 as I stepped of a Hercules tactical transport plane in Kigali Rwanda as a peacekeeper I had no idea that 26 years later, Canada’s Prime Ministers’ words comparing the COVID-19 crisis to war would resonate so deeply with me. At one of his daily news conferences in late March 2020, Justin Trudeau called on all Canadians to serve their country by saying “your duty is to listen, and you can serve by staying home”.

Today, as President and founder of Mental Health Innovations providing Canadian workplaces with innovative ways to support their people, I never thought that my experiences in war zones would be so relevant. As a Veteran who served in many troubled spots, when I reflected on what the Prime Minister said my mind raced and began to analyse the similarities and differences between a crisis in the context of war and that of a global pandemic.

It was immediately obvious to me and my heart sank. While there are many similarities between a pandemic and a war, it is clear that this pandemic is indeed far more challenging for Canadians then going to war can be for a career soldier. As soldiers we:

·      Volunteers to go into harms way

·      Receives outstanding training

·      Is properly equipped

·      Is lead into battle by a robust leadership team. 

This Pandemic on the other hand caught Canadians by surprise and with no and lack of protective equipment. In additional leaders admit not having a blueprint on how to deal with all this. 

One of the key differentiating factors is perhaps that when a soldier goes to war, at least in my context, he does not have to worry about the health and safety of his family. 

I also reflected on the trajectory we embark on when subjected to a crisis situation that drags on like a deployment overseas or this pandemic. 

·      The first month is the hardest but we eventually adapt

·      We then accept the new reality

·      Fatigue sets in at one point

·      We become complacent and perhaps even sloppy and start taking unnecessary risks

·      When it ends, we are happy to go back to normal to discover normal is now different

·      For many, the long term impact of the crisis, the cumulative wear and tear appears many months later

·      Some get help. Some don’t.

·      Some fall through the cracks

While it is clear that not everyone will experience the same challenges in each of the stages below, it is important to understand these in order to mitigate the effects and risk at an individual level as well as the risks to others around us. I am now specially concerned about what happens after the new normal sets in. Will we have everything in place to support the mental health of Canadians. 

Additional notes : “After the War: Surviving PTSD and Changing Mental Health Culture” tells his story from his arrival in the war torn country of Rwanda in 1994, all the way through to his return home. Grenier now reflects back on his wartime experience, his transition to and from home, his demise struggling with PTSD and depression, and most of all, his recovery.