Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
What is PTSD?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a natural emotional reaction to terrible experiences that involve actual or threatened serious harm to oneself or others. 1 When in danger, it is natural to feel afraid. This fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to prepare to defend against the danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or-flight” response is a healthy reaction meant to protect a person from harm. But in PTSD, this reaction is changed or damaged. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they are no longer in danger.2
What Causes PTSD?
Examples of traumatic events can include bombings, rape, torture, death or disappearance of family members or friends, being forced to leave your home, or seeing another person harmed or killed. Other examples of traumatic events are hurricanes, floods or earthquakes. Before coming to Canada, some people – particularly those who have come as refugees — may have lived through events like these.
For some people, the thoughts or memories of these horrible events seriously affect their lives, long after any real danger has passed.1
Who Does PTSD Affect?
Anyone can get PTSD at any age. This includes war veterans and survivors of physical and sexual assault, abuse, accidents, disasters, and many other serious events.
Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Some people get PTSD after a friend or family member experiences danger or is harmed. The sudden, unexpected death of a loved one can also cause PTSD.2
Anyone can get PTSD at any age… children and adults may not show the same signs
The symptoms of PTSD are the same in all cultures. But how these symptoms are described and expressed can change from culture to culture.
Children and adults may not show the same signs of PTSD. Children respond differently to traumatic events, depending on their understanding and age.1
What are the Symptoms of PTSD?
PTSD can cause many symptoms. These symptoms can be grouped into three categories2:
- Re-experiencing symptoms:
- Flashbacks—reliving the trauma over and over, including physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating
- Bad dreams
- Frightening thoughts.
- Hyper arousal symptoms:
- Being easily startled
- Feeling tense or “on edge”
- Having difficulty sleeping, and/or having angry outbursts.
- Avoidance symptoms:
- Staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the experience
- Feeling emotionally numb
- Feeling strong guilt, depression, or worry
- Losing interest in activities that were enjoyable in the past
- Having trouble remembering the dangerous event.
As well many people get depressed. Some people may feel dizzy, have chest pains, stomach problems, or get sick often. Other people with PTSD use alcohol or other drugs to help them deal with symptoms. This can develop into a serious problem.
Dealing with the stresses of settlement may be harder for a person who has experienced a traumatic event. Certain situations can trigger flashbacks, memories or feelings. For example, a short power outage might bring back terrible memories and feelings for a person who has lived through power blackouts during war.1
PTSD usually appears within three months of the event. But sometimes symptoms do not appear for years.
Torture is one kind of event that can lead to PTSD. Gaining a sense of control over one’s own life is critical to a survivor. Therefore, any support should never take over the newcomer’s life; it must always result in empowerment.
While all sufferers of PTSD may experience the aforementioned symptoms, victims of torture face additional repercussions. They may be unwilling to disclose information about their experiences, and may feel suspicious, frightened, or anxious to forget about what has happened. These feelings may discourage them from seeking the help they need. Newcomers may be adversely affected by officials in uniform, signing forms, visiting doctors’ offices, being admitted to hospitals or even encountering staff of government agencies.
How is PTSD Treated?
The main treatments for people with PTSD are psychotherapy (“talk” therapy), medications, or a combination of both. Everyone is different, so a treatment that works for one person may not work for another. It is important for anyone with PTSD to be treated by a mental health care provider who is experienced with PTSD. Some people with PTSD need to try different treatments to find what works best for their symptoms. 2
Trauma counselling or therapy can be done one-on-one or in a group setting, and can be very helpful for people with PTSD. Family counselling and individual treatment can help with relationship troubles.
Psychiatrists and family doctors can prescribe medication for depression, nervousness and sleep problems (common in people with PTSD). Medication works best when a person is also in counselling.1
If someone with PTSD is going through an ongoing trauma, such as being in an abusive relationship, both of the problems need to be treated. Other ongoing problems can include panic disorder, depression, substance abuse, and feeling suicidal.2
1 C.A.M.H: http://www.camh.net/About_Addiction_Mental_Health/Mental_Health_Information/ptsd_refugees_brochure.html
2 N.I.M.H.: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.html
Sexual Harassment
What you need to know as Private Refugee Sponsors
In the context of private refugee sponsorship, sexual harassment can happen to a sponsored individual as well as to a member of a sponsoring group. It can occur among members of the refugee family or sponsoring group. Because it has been experienced in some sponsorship cases, there is growing concern about how to recognize and respond to sexual harassment.
This information has been prepared for private refugee sponsoring groups, in an effort to raise awareness and support their work during the settlement phase. It serves as a starting point for discussion on what can be done to raise awareness and develop prevention strategies around sexual harassment in the context of the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program.
Sexual Harassment vs. Sexual Assault
Sexual harassment generally refers to unwanted conduct or comments of a sexual nature. It does not have to be intentionally discriminatory to constitute harassment. Examples of sexual harassment include:
- unwelcome sexual invitations or requests
- demands for sexual favours
- unwelcome touching or patting of another person’s body
- leering at a person’s body
- unwelcome and repeated innuendos or taunting about a person’s gender, gender identity, sex (including pregnancy and breast feeding) or sexual orientation
- unwelcome remarks or verbal abuse of a sexual nature
- visual displays of sexual images perceived to be degrading or offensive
- unwelcome remarks or verbal abuse based on gender, gender identity, sex (including pregnancy and breast feeding) or sexual orientation which are demeaning or degrading
- threats of a sexual nature
- sexual assault
- any other unwanted verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature
Sexual harassment can be a single incidence or occur more than once at a workplace, place of study, in public or in a home. It is not limited to members of the opposite sex, and can happen within marital relationships.
Sexual assault constitutes a form of sexual harassment. Section 265 of the Criminal Code of Canada defines sexual assault as the act, threat or gesture of intentionally applying force to another person.
NO MEANS NO
Unless you have said YES there is no consent
Preventing Occurrences of Sexual Harassment
Orienting newly arrived individuals as well as members of Constituent Groups about their rights and obligations, including Canadian laws can empower newcomers and help in raising awareness about sexual harassment. For those involved directly in the sponsorship endeavour, training on sexual harassment can also raise awareness, help recognize it and review what constitutes inappropriate and unacceptable conduct.
Knowledge is power
While you will not be able to control another person’s behaviour or actions, it will be important to communicate expectations and what constitutes inappropriate behaviour in the Canadian context. Be aware that for many newly arrived persons, this may be the first time they will be faced with such dialogue and information, as some originate from countries with differing expectations and laws around sexual conduct. As well, a person’s previous experience of sexual violence and trauma will dictate how you will need to approach the matter, and when and in what format you will be able to deliver the information.
You may chose to include an information sheet in the welcome package provided to newly arrived refugees and follow-up with the persons to ensure the information was reviewed and address any questions that have arise.
The following are a few points you may want to consider when organizing an orientation session for sponsored families or CG members:
- Will a guest speaker with expertise in this area be invited to speak to the group?
- Does the facilitator speak the language of the refugees? If not, will you provide interpreters who are familiar with the subject matter?
- Will this information be delivered on a one-by-one basis or in a small group format?
- Will men and women be separated for the purpose of the orientation?
- Will you make this information part of a mandatory training for your CGs or will their participation be voluntary?
- What local resources will you share?
- What are the power imbalances which you will need to address?
Orientation Resources
These resources may help you integrate the topic of sexual harassment and assault into your orientation activities:
Produced by the Department of Justice Canada, this booklet is for immigrant and refugee women who are experiencing abuse in a relationship or in a family. It discusses Canadian law, what people’s rights are, and what kind of help is available. It is available in English, French, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Hungarian, Punjabi, Romanian, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili and Tagalog.
Action Steps
These are some action steps which you may need to take once an incidence of sexual harassment has occurred or has been reported:
- If your group will be investigating an alleged incidence, ensure that those investigating are not implicated in the incident.
- Work with authorities if legal action has been brought forward.
- Refer the alleged perpetrator and victim to appropriate services and/or support groups.
- Keep the matter confidential to avoid gossip from spreading and to ensure that victims of the incidence are not further victimized.
- Extend support to witnesses and those indirectly affected through debriefing sessions, preferably with a qualified counsellor or social worker.
- Remind CGs of their responsibilities and obligations as sponsors.
- Revisit your policies and practices in place to prevent and deal effectively with potential future incidences of sexual harassment or assault.
Where to go for help
Legal clinic
In Canada, provincial human rights legislation protects against (sexual) harassment in the public sphere. Sexual harassment also falls within the Canadian Human Rights Act and can be pursued as a claim to the Canadian Human Rights Commission. In terms of sexual assault, the most common legal response is the criminal process.
Police
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or injured call 911. If you have reported a sexual assault, follow-up with the police to find out whether your claim is or will be investigated. When the police are satisfied that they have a case, they will lay charges. Also contact the police if the accused has contacted the victim while released on bail. In the criminal justice system, crown attorneys represent the broader society, and may therefore subpoena the person affected to appear in court as a witness.
Sexual assaults can be reported to police regardless of how long ago they happened.
Reporting a sexual assault to the police should be the decision of the victim. Be careful not to push anyone into reporting it. Some women do not report sexual assault to police because of shame, fears, barriers, or re-victimization in the criminal process. Orienting newly arrived refugees about sexual harassment and what supports are available, will help in empowering those affected and reduce intimidation by the system.
Sexual Assault centres
Local sexual assault centres can play an important educative role, and act as advocates for those affected by a sexual assault.
Help Lines
- Assaulted Women’s Help Line: 1-866-863-0511
- Victim Support Line: 1-888-579-2888
- Femaide (French): 1-877-336-2433
The Rights of Privately Sponsored Refugees
Download the PDF Versions of this Fact Sheet in (English) (French) (Amharic) (Arabic) (Armenian) (Farsi) (Kurmanji) (Pashto) (Sorani) (Tigrinya)
Welcome to Canada! If you are a privately sponsored refugee living in Canada (not including Quebec), this resource is for you. If you are living in Quebec, please contact Immigration, Diversité et Inclusion for information.
Private sponsorship means that a group of people in Canada submitted an application to bring you here, and are committed to providing you with settlement support, as well as financial support, to cover your basic expenses for the duration of your sponsorship period.
This resource explains your rights, and what you should expect from your sponsors. It also explains what your responsibilities are and what to do if you have concerns about your sponsorship, or believe that you are not receiving the support that you are entitled to.
Who are private sponsors
Private sponsors are volunteers who have come together to sponsor you to come to Canada and have committed to providing you with financial and non-financial support during your sponsorship period. You may know your sponsors, as they could be your family members or friends, or your sponsors may be people you will get to know in the coming months.
How long is your sponsorship period?
In most cases, the sponsorship period is one year. In exceptional cases, and only if Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and your sponsors agree, sponsorships may last longer than one year. If you are unsure how long your sponsorship period is, it is likely one year. Your sponsors can confirm the length of your sponsorship.
What should you receive from your sponsors?
1) Financial support to cover your basic expenses for one year or until you can support yourself, whichever comes first.
Your sponsor is responsible for financially supporting you during your first year in Canada or until you can support yourself, whichever comes first. Support will include monetary support, which is usually provided monthly, and start-up support, which is a combination of monetary support and donated or purchased items that you will receive shortly after arrival to help you begin your new life in Canada. Start-up support includes things like furniture, linens, and other household essentials like cleaning supplies, plates, and pots.
Your sponsors are responsible for providing you with financial support on an ongoing basis for the duration of your sponsorship. They must either provide you with or give you enough monetary support to pay for the following:
- Basic needs (food, and other necessities of life)
- Shelter (a room, apartment or house to live in, including the cost of utilities like electricity, heating, and water)
- Local transportation (for example, monthly passes for local buses or trains)
- Communication (phone/internet).
If you have been sponsored under the Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Program, the Government of Canada will provide you with monthly cheques to cover your basic expenses for six months, usually starting from the second month that you are in Canada. Your sponsoring group does not have to provide you with any additional funds during the months that the Government of Canada is providing you with financial support. Your sponsoring group is still financially responsible for:
- providing you with start-up support, money and items to set up your home, such as furniture, kitchen supplies, cleaning products, bedding, rent and utility deposits, clothing, etc. Some of these items may have been donated.
- providing you with enough money to cover your basic expenses (housing, food, local transportation, communication) for the first month that you are in Canada unless you can support yourself and your
- providing you with enough money to cover your basic expenses for the last five months of your sponsorship period, or until you can support yourself and your family, whichever comes first.
If during the first year in Canada you find a job, your sponsors may reduce the amount of money that they provide you with. Although some sponsors choose not to make any deductions to financial support when newcomers start working, sponsors are allowed to deduct financial support based on the following guidelines provided by IRCC:
- when your family’s income (after tax deductions) is more than 50% of your monthly financial support from the sponsors (including the cost of any monthly “in-kind” support such as the cost of shelter when it is being provided “in-kind”): sponsors are allowed to deduct $1 for each $1 you ear
- if your family’s income (after tax deductions) is more than 150% of the monthly financial support (including the cost of any monthly “in-kind” support such as the cost of shelter when it is being provided “in-kind”), sponsors do not need to provide you with additional monthly financial sup
However, if you lose your job, or earn less money during the sponsorship period, your sponsors must start
providing you with financial support again. The sponsoring group must ensure that you can afford all of the basics listed above for the entire sponsorship period. It is a good idea to have discussions with the sponsoring group about how much support they plan to provide if you start working. Federal or provincial tax benefits or rebates, including the Canada Child Benefit, are tax-free monthly payments available to all qualifying permanent residents and Canadian citizens, and sponsor support cannot be reduced once you start receiving these benefits.
Private sponsors are not required to provide you with financial support if you already have enough money to fully support yourself and your family. If you brought money to Canada with you, your sponsoring group may ask you to contribute to your costs of living in Canada. Sponsors are ultimately responsible for ensuring you have sufficient money to cover your necessities. For more information about this, including how much money sponsors can ask you to contribute to your costs of living based on the amount of money that you are bringing with you to Canada, please read the following document: https://www.rstp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DECLARATION-OF-FUNDS-AND-ASSETS-ON-ARRIVAL.pdf.
Although the items that you are given and the housing that has been arranged may not be luxurious, they must be adequate. Some sponsors may have arranged for you to live with someone else, such as a sponsor, family member or stranger. This is acceptable as long as you are comfortable with this arrangement. Ultimately, your home must be safe and able to accommodate your whole family, and you must have enough money to buy sufficient food to keep you and your family well-fed and healthy.
Other refugees may be given more or less money and items than you. All sponsorships are different, and the amount of support sponsors provide is not always equal. At a minimum, sponsors are expected to provide a level of financial support that is equal to the Resettlement Assistance Program rates. To calculate the minimum amount of financial support that you should be receiving, please either:
For more details about the financial support that you should receive, please refer to the Post Arrival Requirements for Private Sponsorships: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/sponsor-refugee/private-sponsorship-program/assessments/post-arrival-requirements.html
2) Settlement support for the duration of the sponsorship period.
Your sponsors must assist you to get set up and adjusted to life in Canada. This entails many tasks, including (but not limited to):
- Housing
- finding housing for you, or helping you to find housing
- Orientation
- teaching you how to use local public transportation, like buses and trains
- showing you around your community, and helping you to find the nearest grocery store
- explaining the laws in Canada
- Health care
- helping you apply for your provincial health card and use the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)
- helping to find you a doctor, dentist, and other health services
- explaining health services.
- Education
- helping you enroll in English or French classes
- helping you enroll your children in school.
- Important documents and services
- helping you open a bank account and learn to budget
- helping you apply for a Social Insurance Number, and if you have children, helping you apply for the Canada Child Benefits.
- Interpretation
- providing an interpreter when needed.
- Employment
- connecting you with job search services.
- Resources and Services
Settlement support must be provided throughout the entire duration of the sponsorship period, even if you are employed.
What are your settlement responsibilities?
Once you have arrived in Canada, you are expected to make every effort to become self-sufficient as soon as possible. This may include attending English or French classes, connecting with a Settlement Agency that can help you to settle into life in Canada, and starting to look for a job if you can. Although you are not required to work and support yourself and your family in your first year in Canada, it is advisable to create a plan for how you intend to support yourself and your family after the sponsorship period is over.
What happens if you choose to move to a different city in Canada?
As a Permanent Resident of Canada, you may move anywhere in Canada. You may voluntarily choose to move to another part of Canada, but before doing so you should discuss your move with your sponsors to understand possible outcomes.
Private sponsors are committed to supporting you based on the understanding that you will live in their community. Private sponsors are only required to provide you with financial and settlement support while you are in their community. If you move, sponsors must attempt to find you a sponsoring group in your new community. However, if they are unable to do so, you may not receive further financial or non-financial support from your sponsors.
What are sponsors not allowed to do?
Your sponsors are here to support you. They are not allowed to:
- Ask you for any money before you arrive to pay for your sponsorship, including any fees, or money to pay for your living expenses in Canada (even if they say they will give it back to you).
- Ask you for any money after you arrive to repay them for sponsoring you.
- Deduct the number of financial support payments they provide you with when you start receiving Canada Child Benefits.
- Force you to w
- Ask you to work for them for free.
- Force you to do anything you are not comfortable doing.
Sponsors have committed to helping you to adjust to life in Canada, and cannot expect or request anything in return.
What should you do if you are not receiving enough support from your sponsors?
If you believe that your private sponsors are not providing you with the support that they are supposed to provide, talk to your sponsor about your concerns if you are comfortable enough to do so. If they sponsored you through an organization (for example, a Sponsorship Agreement Holder), share your concerns with the organization. If you are still not receiving support, or if you are afraid to approach your sponsors, you should contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). There are no consequences to contacting IRCC, and your Permanent Resident status will not be impacted. IRCC will try to find a solution to the problem to ensure that you receive the support that you need.
You can contact IRCC by emailing: IRCC.PSRCaseReview-RevuedecasPSR.IRCC@cic.gc.ca.
A representative from IRCC will ask you questions about the situation, and may also contact your sponsors.
They will try to gather information, such as how much financial and settlement support you are being given, and they will try to connect you with the support you need. IRCC will also decide who will provide you with financial and settlement support in the future. If they find that you are not receiving enough support, and your sponsoring group is unable or unwilling to provide you with more support, they may declare a “sponsorship breakdown.” This means that your sponsoring group would no longer be responsible for providing you with financial and settlement support for the rest of the sponsorship period. In this case, you may:
- be given another sponsoring group, or
- be given government funding, or
- be told that you can apply for provincial social assistance.
Depending on the circumstances of the case, there may be some consequences to the sponsoring group. For example, they may have to pay the government back for the government funding or provincial social assistance that they receive. It is important to remember that solutions and consequences are determined on a case-by-case basis by IRCC.
What should you do if you are being mistreated, exploited or abused?
If you believe that you are being mistreated or exploited by your sponsors, please contact IRCC immediately at IRCC.PSRCaseReview-RevuedecasPSR.IRCC@cic.gc.ca. There are many examples of mistreatment and exploitation, including:
- being threatened;
- being forced to give sponsors money;
- not being allowed to leave the house;
- being forced to work;
- having your documents taken away from you;
- being forced to do anything you don’t want to do.
For any serious or urgent matters, contact the police. If it is an emergency, dial 911 for immediate assistance. Urgent matters include (but are not limited to):
- if someone is being violent towards you or your family;
- if you fear that someone will be violent towards you or your family;
- if you are experiencing any abuse, including physical or sexual abuse.
What will happen to you if you report your concerns to IRCC?
There are no consequences to you or your Permanent Resident status in Canada if you ask IRCC for help. If you are not receiving adequate financial or settlement support from your sponsors, or if you have concerns about the sponsorship, including if you believe that you are being mistreated, exploited or abused, IRCC will try to find a solution to the problem that you are facing.
What are your rights?
You have the right to express any concerns that you have with your sponsoring group. For example, if you have concerns about sponsors publishing information or pictures of you without your consent, or making decisions on your behalf, you have the right to raise your concerns with your sponsors.
Also, you are entitled to receive the financial and settlement support explained above from your private sponsors.
It is your right to contact IRCC to raise any concerns you may have and to contact the police if needed.
Where can you find more information?
For more information, please contact the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP):
