Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition that can occur after witnessing or experiencing a terrifying event. Symptoms often include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

PTSD is a struggle for anyone who suffers from it, and it's not easy to go through it alone.

"There is a need for peer support," said the Canadian Mental Health Association's Donna Bowyers. "Which, when we talk about peer support, what we're talking about is people with life experience of PTSD who are offering support to people who are just beginning their struggle."

That is why the Canadian Mental Health Association and Occupational Stress and Injury (OSI) are holding a PTSD support group at Riverview Collegiate.

"The group is safe, it's a confidential group," added Bowyers. "It's not one where their employers or co-workers or anyone else will find out that they're taking part in with people that have experienced the same sort of difficulties through their work that they have."

Meetings occur every Wednesday night at 7 pm, and any first responders, whether it be EMS, Firefighters or Police officers, are welcome to join.