Change Your Socks: Fighting Stigma, A Day at a Time
June 27 is PTSD Awareness Day, but for many people, awareness is not something that fits into a single day, or even a single moment. For those living with the effects of trauma, whether from years of service, a sudden incident, or perhaps something even harder to define, it often shows up in everyday moments, not always visible, but still present. And not everyone feels safe or comfortable speaking about them.
At Team Rubicon Canada, we do not treat trauma. We respond to disasters to assist those who may be going through some of their hardest times. But many Greyshirts are familiar with trauma in our own ways. Some have worn uniforms in service to our country or their communities, and those experiences often shape the desire to continue serving. Some have lived through disasters themselves and became Greyshirts to help others, because they know what it is like to face uncertainty and loss. Others come looking for connection – a sense of purpose, identity, or simply a team to be part of again.
What connects Greyshirts is not just the uniform or our background, but the culture we work to build together. We do not ask anyone to justify why they’re here, and we don’t compare one person’s story to another. Instead, we focus on creating teams where people feel safe showing up as they are, whether they choose to share their experiences or not. That kind of space doesn’t require much, just awareness, trust, and the intention to look out for one another.
One of the ways we care for each other and face the challenges of disaster relief is through our cultural principle: Change Your Socks. It might sound like simple field advice after a long day in boots, but it means much more. It is a reminder to take care of the basics, and that our mental well-being, and the well-being of those around us, matters just as much as staying physically prepared. When we say, “change your socks,” what we really mean is: check in with yourself, and don’t forget to check in on someone else.
Whether we are mucking out flood-damaged homes or sifting through wildfire debris, we carry the awareness that the visible damage is only part of the picture. People are often overwhelmed and have experienced loss; they are tired or simply trying to hold things together. We meet them there, without needing to fix them or comment on it. We just do the work, with care and empathy.
There is a rhythm that forms on a deployment: the task at hand, the meals, the logistics, and then at the end of the day, the campfire. That is where shoulders start to relax, where someone might laugh for the first time all day, or where the weight of it can be shared – not because anyone asked, but because the space allowed it. Around the fire, no one is expected to speak, but if someone does, they are met with quiet nods, shared glances, and the comfort of knowing they are not the only one carrying something heavy.
Stigma survives in silence, and it thrives when people feel they shouldn’t speak up. That is exactly why we keep working, not just with chainsaws and sifting, but with culture.
For those who are carrying something heavy, you are not alone. For those who want to contribute while still finding their footing, there is a place for you. Some people become a Greyshirt because they want to serve again, while others come to be part of something that reminds them, they still can. For anyone wondering whether they belong, the answer is simple: if you are willing to serve, and willing to care for the person beside you, then yes, you do.
PTSD awareness is not about headlines or a social media post that says we know it exists. It is about reducing the stigma and creating an environment where sharing is ok.
We will keep making space for that and encouraging everyone to change their socks.
