CBC Archives

In a class discussion, ask students to share what they know about shell shock or post-traumatic stress disorder. Ask them to consider what things might happen in war that could change a person psychologically.

Place students into pairs. Have them examine the clip The ghosts of Rwanda and the additional clip Warmest regards, Dallaire from Witness to Evil: Roméo Dallaire and Rwanda on the CBC Digital Archives website. As well, have them examine the additional clip Veterans and post traumatic stress from the topic Continuing the Fight: Canada’s Veterans on the CBC Digital Archives website. (Note: some content includes disturbing images.) Then have them respond to the comment made by General Dallaire: “Sometimes I wish I’d lost a leg instead of having all those grey cells screwed up. You lose a leg, it’s obvious; you’ve got therapy, all that stuff. You lose your marbles, very, very difficult to explain, very difficult to gain that support that you need.”

Students can respond by writing a reflective statement about PTSD and its impact on people. In addition, in that statement, they can identify the kinds of supports such people should have to help them through trying times caused by PTSD.

Ask students to share their reflection with their partners. Follow this by combining pairs into fours and allowing them to discuss PTSD and its impacts.

Students can write a fictitious story about their experiences in a warlike situation and the effects it would have on their emotional state. Have the story end by their finding a way to save themselves from being self-destructive.