CANADA
Canadian Seismologists recorded nothing unusual last October. But
psychologists in Quebec monitored tremors of earthquake proportions. And
the aftershocks continue.
On October 30, the French-speaking province voted, by a margin of
just one percent, to remain part of Canada. The referendum, which
threatened to split Canada in two, has left an atmosphere of hostility in
its wake.
"This is more than ordinary,' stress," says Barbara Wainrib, Ph.D.,
of the impact the province's uncertain future is having on the mental
health of its citizens. "This is traumatic stress, the kind that's
normally associated with natural disasters."
Wainrib, a McGill University psychologist who specializes in crisis
intervention, first noticed signs of public stress about two weeks before
the vote. "My patients were taking half their therapy sessions to talk
about their political fears," she recalls.
When the referendum's almost inconclusive result brought continued
uncertainty, Wainrib circulated a questionnaire to document public
anxiety.
She discovered that families were divided by the issue, marriages
threatened. Nearly three-quarters of respondents reported anger and
irritability, and two-thirds were worried about moving elsewhere. More
than half reported feelings of sadness, loss of trust, and sleep
disturbances.
"People have to understand that my Canadian identity is a core
piece of who I am," wrote one woman. "When I felt Canada being
threatened, it was as if a piece of myself was being torn apart."
Quebec's separatist government, invigorated by the near success of
its dream, has promised another referendum in the near future. So there
may be no end in sight to the province's anxiety.
PHOTO (COLOR)
Tags:
aftershocks,
anxiety,
Canada,
canada canadian,
canadian identity,
core piece,
crisis intervention,
identity,
inconclusive result,
mcgill university,
natural disasters,
photo color,
political fears,
politics,
public anxiety,
Quebec,
seismologists,
sleep disturbances,
therapy sessions,
three quarters,
traumatic stress,
tremors,
uncertain future,
university psychologist
