Ten years after the tragedy | The Mégantic TV series could bring back painful memories

(Montreal) The anniversary of a traumatic event can provoke reactions in those who have suffered it. Ten years after the Lac-Mégantic tragedy, the mental health of those directly or indirectly affected by Canada’s worst rail disaster is still a hot topic. And the next broadcast of the TV series Megantic may well rekindle some emotions.

During the five years following the tragedy, health surveys were carried out among the population of the MRC du Granit, in Estrie, where the train accident took place which claimed the lives of 47 people. On July 6, 2013, a train filled with crude oil rolled down a slope upstream from Lac-Mégantic before derailing in the city center, triggering explosions and a huge fire.

In 2018, almost half of adults in the MRC had moderate or severe manifestations of post-traumatic stress.

“There is this scar that has been left within the community. Can part of the population still have manifestations of post-traumatic stress? Yes, definitely,” explains Dr. Mélissa Généreux.

Some people may therefore try to avoid aspects that remind them of the initial trauma or even overreact, jump, have excessive emotions or intrusive thoughts, have nightmares.

As for the tenth “anniversary” of the tragedy, it is “a key figure [qui] can elicit a whole range of emotions,” says Dr.^D Généreux, who is a professor-researcher at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Sherbrooke and medical advisor to the Public Health Department of Estrie.

In this context, the arrival on the small screen of a fiction inspired by the event and its possible impact on the population of Lac-Mégantic has raised questions.

“Is it a good idea to make the TV series? Not just on a personal opinion, but what does science say about it, ”reports having questioned the D^D Generous.

In her research, starting from what exists in suicide prevention, she finally did not find any guidelines that say not to use images of a disaster.

The reflection was therefore rather oriented towards supporting the population.

The series in eight one-hour episodes imagined by screenwriter Sylvain Guy and producers Alexis Durand-Brault and Sophie Lorain will be available on Club Illico from February 9. The trailer has been broadcast on the entire TVA network since Monday.

It is therefore almost obvious that the Méganticois, whether through traditional media or social networks, are exposed to it, according to the D^D Generous.

The Lac-Mégantic local team, a group of workers from the CIUSSS de l’Estrie present in the field, therefore worked to find solutions to soften and reduce the impact of this television series on the community, in collaboration with the production team.

The D^D Généreux, who is also in charge of the local team, also underlines the collaboration with the production, which was evident in the community from the beginnings of the television project.

The consequences of watching the trailer or the TV series can be different from person to person, according to the doctor. Some may see too personal aspects of what they have experienced or feel vulnerable, seeing images imposed on them that they would not have wanted to see, she says.

“This type of viewing, which recalls difficult events from the past, is not always just associated with negative effects, nevertheless notes the doctor. […] For some people, it can become a source of information, help to understand, to feel that our experience is shared by others. »

The local team is therefore in listening mode to welcome the reactions that the Méganticois will be able to experience with the viewing of the trailer.

She will also be at the launch of the TV series in Lac-Mégantic on February 6, where an episode will be presented, in the presence of the production team.

An event where workers from the community mental health resource of Lac-Mégantic L’Ensoleillée also plan to be present.

“It’s been over a year (since the filming of the TV series began), we had some time to prepare for it, but we had so many questions and we still have so many. It is sure that it will rekindle pain, ”says the director of the organization, Geneviève Giroux.

Native of Lac-Mégantic, she says that her tears flowed when she saw the trailer.

“Tragedy comes to get us, whether we have lost a loved one or whether we have lost our city center, our landmarks; then we are a community, we all know each other, ”explains the one who lost a friend who committed suicide after the tragedy.

On the side of the organization, which she defines as a living environment, people with various mental health issues are welcomed, but those with problems related to the train accident are not so frequent, she says.

“There are some who, yes, still suffer from fears, fears, things that will come to rekindle their emotions […]emphasizes M.^me Giroux. We are in the city center, we see it every day, we can’t forget it. Even if we were far away, we wouldn’t forget it either. »

As for the TV series, she reminds us that it is important for people to ask themselves questions before watching it – to know if they really want to listen to it – and to talk about it, not to remain alone in the face of their fears. .

The D^D Généreux stresses that you shouldn’t feel guilty for being upset, even if you weren’t present during the tragedy.

The “Mégantic” TV series is a fictional series inspired by the events of July 2013 in Lac-Mégantic. Each episode focuses on the fate of one or more victims.

In an interview on TVA’s “La Tour” program on Monday, producer Sophie Lorain said that the series is a tribute to the people of Lac-Mégantic, but that it is not necessarily for them. “So that Quebec knows that this story, it’s them, it’s us too,” she said.