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Glossary Terms - 38 Results

Wellness

For Experts Many people and agencies have different understandings of the word “wellness.”  The First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework (FNMWCF) defines mental wellness as a balance of the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional (Health Canada and Assembly of First […]

Well-being (Wellbeing)

For Experts There are many ways of understanding the term “well-being,” and there is no universal standard for spelling well-being with a hyphen or wellbeing without a hyphen. Psychologists often talk about forms of subjective psychological well-being, like happiness or […]

Vicarious Traumatization

For Experts Currently not a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. Psychological trauma that occurs following indirect exposure to a potentially psychologically traumatic event or being exposed to a traumatized person (e.g., witnessed the aftermath; learned about the trauma happening […]

Vicarious Traumatic Stress

For Experts Currently not a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. Stress that can occur following indirect exposure to a potentially psychologically traumatic event being exposed to a traumatized person (e.g., witnessed the aftermath; learned about the trauma happening to […]

Tri-Services

For Experts A subset of public safety personnel. Refers specifically to firefighters, paramedics, and police. For General Public Public safety personnel who are firefighters, paramedics, and police. Return to Index

Traumatic Event / Traumatic Stress / Traumatic Stressor

For Experts Currently not a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. In the context of mental health discussions, usually refers to a potentially psychologically traumatic event. The DSM and ICD specify the types of potentially psychologically traumatic events that serve […]

Trauma / Traumatic Injury

For Experts Currently not a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. Trauma can be (a) physical, meaning an injury to living tissue caused by an extrinsic physical, biological, or radiological agent, or (b) psychological, meaning a disordered psychic or behavioural […]

Stress / Stressor / Stressful Event 

For Experts Stress describes the experience a person has while being impacted by one or more stressors, often characterized by psychological distress and physiological changes (e.g., increased heart rate, shallow breathing, muscle tension). Stress is a common experience and some […]

Resilience

For Experts Generally used to describe the concept of adapting to or bouncing back from a negative event or experience.  Defined in a number of different ways as something one has, something one develops, or something one uses, which reflects […]

Recovery

For Experts There is no universally agreed definition for this term, however, the concept is widely endorsed. Refers to the personally contextualized, self-determined journey to good well-being when a person has a mental disorder, a chronic physical health condition, or […]

Operational Stress Injury (OSI)

For Experts Currently not a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD manuals. Currently used primarily in Canada. Originally defined as any mental disorder or other mental health condition resulting from operational duties performed while serving in the Canadian Armed Forces.  […]

Occupational Stress Injury / Organizational Stress Injury

For Experts Currently not diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. Evolving concepts that continue to be discussed among experts.  One view is that occupational stressors sort into operational stressors and organizational stressors; however, the terms are emerging, and definitions remain […]

Moral Injury

For Experts Currently not a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. Evolving concept that continues to be discussed among experts.  One view is that moral injury is a type of psychological trauma characterized by intense guilt, shame, and spiritual crisis.  […]

Mental Illness

For Experts When used, refers to mental disorders, diagnosed or as yet undiagnosed. Ranges in severity from mild to severe. Associated with significant distress in social, occupational, or other activities. For General Public When used, refers to mental disorders, diagnosed […]

Mental Health Condition/Mental Health Challenge

For Experts Broad term that includes mental disorders, mental illness, and undiagnosed symptoms that could be explained by mental disorder diagnoses.  Also includes states of poor mental health that do not meet DSM or ICD diagnostic criteria for mental disorders, […]

Mental Health Injury / Psychological Injury

For Experts Currently not a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. Refers to any type of mental disorder, not only those that occur as a result of exposure to one or more potentially psychologically traumatic events. Injury means an acute […]

Mental Health

For Experts “Mental” refers to thoughts (thought content), feelings (emotions), and related brain functioning. Mental health varies on a continuum from “poor” to “good”. Good mental health is a state of psychological well-being. Good mental health generally enables people to […]

Mental Disorder

For Experts A clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behaviour that reflects dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning where the person’s condition meets DSM or ICD diagnostic criteria. Associated with significant […]

Interpersonal Violence

For Experts One or more behaviours wherein an individual causes physical trauma or psychological trauma to another individual, including but not limited to, child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, elder abuse, assault by strangers, as well as violence related to property […]

Health

For Experts The physical, mental, social, and some say spiritual, functioning of a person, which can range from poor to good (Huber, 2010; Huber, Knottnerus, Green, van der Horst, Jadad, Kromhout … & Smid, 2011; Thompson, MacLean, Roach, Banman, Mabior […]

First Responder(s)

For Experts The definition of “first responder” is continuing to evolve. A person with specialized training who is among the first to arrive and provide assistance at the scene of an emergency, such as an accident, natural disaster, or terrorist […]

Diagnosis / Diagnostic

For Experts Diagnosis is the process of explaining a person’s state of mental or physical health through examination and consideration of various types of evidence. Diagnosis is also a conclusion made about the nature of a health condition, illness, or […]

Critical Incident

For Experts Currently not a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. Potentially psychologically traumatic events that are common among some groups, such as public safety personnel (PSP). Critical incidents were thought to involve experiencing unusually strong emotional reactions which have […]

Complex Trauma

For Experts Currently not a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. Psychological trauma resulting from exposure to multiple traumatic events or a single prolonged traumatic event, particularly when the event was difficult to escape, such as repeated childhood sexual or […]

Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)

For Experts Currently a diagnosis in the ICD. Meets all the diagnostic requirements for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, with additional criteria, as specified in the ICD.  The main things that distinguish C-PTSD from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder are the protracted nature of […]

Public Safety Personnel (PSP)

For Experts The definition of “Public Safety Personnel” (PSP) is continuing to evolve. Currently used primarily in Canada.  Broad term meant to encompass personnel who ensure the safety and security of Canadians.  PSP include, but are not limited to, border […]

Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSS)

For Experts Currently not a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. May be considered inaccurate or stigmatizing. Often mistakenly used interchangeably with several other terms; therefore, wherever possible, using another more specific term will be more accurate and more helpful.  […]

Posttraumatic Stress Injury (PTSI)

For Experts Currently not a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. Currently used primarily in Canada. Refers to a mental health condition that a person might acquire as a result of exposure to one or more potentially psychologically traumatic events. […]

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

For Experts Diagnostic criteria are provided for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder  in the DSM and ICD. A mental disorder which can occur following exposure to specific types of severe, potentially psychologically traumatic events perceived as involving severe threat to self or […]

Posttraumatic Stress (PTS)

For Experts Currently not a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. Has been used to refer to stress and/or mental health conditions arising from exposure to a potentially psychologically traumatic stressor or event. Has been used to refer specifically to […]

Posttraumatic Growth (PTG)

For Experts Currently not a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. Refers to positive personal changes that may result from an individual working to cope with the psychological consequences of exposure to trauma or a potentially psychologically traumatic event. Major […]

People with Lived Experience / Experts by Experience

For Experts People who are living with, have lived with, or are recovering from a mental disorder or mental health condition. May also include persons exposed to a potentially psychologically traumatic stressor or event. May also include the loved ones […]

Compassion Fatigue

For Experts Currently not a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. A mental health condition describing adverse psychological reactions in persons providing care to others, which is related to the stress experienced from caring, empathizing, and both the physical and psychiatric investments made when […]

Burnout

For Experts Currently a diagnosis in the ICD. Burnout is described by the World Health Organization as an “occupational phenomenon” and is included in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). The ICD-11 defines Burnout as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting […]

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)

For Experts “Adverse childhood experiences are defined operationally as childhood events, varying in severity and often chronic, occurring in a child’s family or social environment that cause harm and distress, thereby disrupting the child’s physical or psychological health and development” […]

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)

For Experts Diagnostic criteria are provided for ASD in the DSM and ICD. A mental disorder that can occur after exposure to psychological stressors during one or more potentially psychologically traumatic events perceived as involving severe threat to self or […]

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