Jonathan Blackwood, Lethbridge, Alta.

For one Albertan, running provides a way to deal with job-related trauma

Chantelle Erickson

First responders often confront traumatic situations, and rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are high. Jonathan Blackwood’s story is a testament to the transformative power of running. Blackwood spent 10 years in the military and 15 years with the Lethbridge Police Service; as it has for many law enforcement officers, for Blackwood, running became an indispensable tool to process trauma associated with their job. Fifteen years into his career, Blackwood, 44, found himself battling PTSD after an accumulation of traumatic experiences—in particular, the recovery of the body of a 12-year-old who drowned in Lethbridge’s Old Man River. Blackwood has a son similar in age, and the weight of these experiences led him to take a stress leave from the police force to seek treatment. During this period of recovery, Blackwood found solace in…

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Canadian Running (Digital) - 1 Issue, January/February 2024

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