About Heal the Healers

HEAL The Healers·November 11- 17, 2019 - Why Do This?

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Why is this Campaign Important?

Stress is in all of our lives.  However, in the lives of a Frontline Worker, stress can be more significant and have a significant effect on the workers life.  You (the Frontline Worker) are often dealing with people in their most vulnerable states, having to make life and death decisions as a normal part of your daily work, and encounter tragic situations that many of us not involved with the services will ever have to face in our lifetimes.  This can have an impact on your health, your mental health, your physical health and ultimately the well being of your friends families and communities.

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This campaign started as an idea formulated by the impressive work being undertaken in the  USA military by Dr. John Fortunato. The USA Military include alternative and complementary therapies to return veterans, suffering from PTSD, to active service. https://www.army.mil/article/11001/chief_says_army_needs_to_replicate_bliss_ptsd_program

The USA started this in 2008 with a $4m funding grant to set up these practices.  Because of the success of these practices, most notably Fort Bliss, the military have created an additional 15 centres throughout the USA that include these alternative approaches as part of their treatment programs.  A lot more money has ben invested since the initial trials in 2008.  

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Over 800 hospitals in the USA use energy healing techniques such as Reiki to assist patients in their health process. 

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Here in NZ, we don’t have the resources of the US Military, but we do have willing people wanting to give back to our Frontline Workers.  There can be immeasurable benefits from including these practices in your life.  Ultimately, this campaign is a seed for bringing about the same type of involvement of alternative and complementary practices to bringing health to the people of New Zealand.  Especially those people who carry the traumatic stresses of their jobs and the things they see and deal with into their personal life. 

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Here is a very relevant example of how stress is impacting our Frontline. THis article appeared on TVNZ's Sunday program.  https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/sunday/clips/burnout    Some very real and serious consequences from dealing with continual exposure to traumatic and toxic situations. We need to support our People with what resources we have. 

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The impact of not effectively dealing with stress in our lives can lead to depression and the associated life challenges that come with that.   The Ministry of Health have developed a strategy document outlining the approach to countering suicide rates in NZ.   https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/suicide-prevention-strategy-2019-2029-and-plan-2019-2024.pdf

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Whilst Suicide may not be specifically applicable to our Frontline workers, the scars they carry can lead down this path.  The framework being developed by the Ministry of Health provides a structure to help deal with stress in our lives and communities.  Two of the noted protective factors (p5), include the ability to deal with life’s difficulties, and access to health and support.  This campaign is not in anyway claiming to have the answer to this challenge, however it can be part of the mechanism our community uses to create health.

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There are varying perspectives on the effectiveness of alternative and complementary practices forming part of a health practice.  That is one of the issues this campaign faces, the perception of these practices in achieving health.  One General in the USA took perceptions head on to create a model for mental and physical health within the US Military. https://www.thetrace.org/2017/03/military-suicide-prevention-general-pittard/

The US Military implements many practices in dealing with PTSD to return military personal to “Fit for Duty” status.  Some the core disciplines of their facilities are Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, Reiki, Acupuncture, and Massage. https://www.army.mil/article/80772/holistic_treatments_help_soldiers_battle_ptsd

For the first 80 graduates who went through the program, there was a 64% success rate for returning personal to “Fit for Duty” status. https://www.army.mil/article/18943/fort_bliss_restoration_and_resilience_center_offers_war_damaged_minds_solace_treatment

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Who Are the Practitioners Offering their Time and Expertise.

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We as a community of alternative and complementary practitioners want to acknowledge our Frontline Workers and help them do their jobs.  There can be tools and experiences that our expertise can offer that can assist Our Frontline to combat stress and enjoy relaxation, to decompress after a “tough” situation and to maintain a healthy stress balance. 

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The scars of Our Frontline are carried for a lifetime.   Ultimately, we want our communities to be healthy and the people that contribute to our communities to be acknowledged.

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Many of our practitioners have used the practices they offer to transform or improve their own lives. Many practitioners have suffered health challenges, mental, emotional, physical that have challenged their lives and forced them to find a new way of doing things, a new way of finding health.  Conventional methods weren't producing the needed results. Through exploration and experience, the practitioners find methods that help them to heal their own lives.  Many of the health challenges bring great stress to our lives.  The practices offered in this campaign can form a part of the foundation for maintaining health in your everyday life.  We as a group of practitioners have found techniques that have helped us improve our lives and want to share this learning and expertise with our Front line. 

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In gathering the group of practitioners for this campaign, it was identified that many practitioners do 'good work for our communities' already.  Some provide free sessions to Fire Crews.  Some practitioners offer free sessions for those in need, or a free day of sessions to specific community sectors. They practitioners in this campaign recognise the need to give back to our communities.  Without healthy people we can't have healthy communities. Part of having healthy communities is the need to give to those in need.  In giving, we are receiving. 

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What are the possibilities for the Frontline Worker from this campaign:

• Experiencing new ways of dealing with stress and achieving relaxation.

• Healthier lives, shedding some of the wounds, less pressure on the families.

• Acknowledgement for your efforts and the “wounds” that are hidden on the inside. 

• Opening to new possibilities.

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If you are in our Frontline, and needing something more, then please, 

1. Take the opportunity to try something new. 

2. Go to the Services page of the HEAL the Healers Facebook page,

3. Select a practitioner in your area in a practice you want to try, contact them directly to book your session.

4. Enjoy our gift to you.

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This is an opportunity for us to do something amazing. These practices of Yoga, Reiki, Healing Touch, Acupuncture, Contact CARE - Flinchlock Release have something to offer you.  Born out of thousands of years of practice and development, they are great tools to fit into your life to help maintain health and wellbeing.