B.C. firefighters understand the physical risks that accompany their work to protect lives and property from fire. Training and ongoing education work to keep them as safe as possible from the effects of smoke, heat, chemicals and the structural damage they navigate.
But what about the mental health impacts of what they see and experience through the course of their work – whether as first responders for vehicle collisions and health emergencies, or when they’re tasked with battling wildfires threatening their own communities, especially in remote regions where the majority of firehalls are served by volunteers?
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, first responders are at four times greater risk of developing symptoms of psychological disorders, compared to the average population. BCAA and the Canadian Mental Health Association, Vancouver-Fraser Branch (CMHA VF) aim to change that through Resilient Minds®, a mental health resiliency training program co-authored by retired firefighter and former Captain of Mental Health and Wellness with the Vancouver Fire & Rescue Service, Steve Fraser and the CMHA Vancouver-Fraser Branch. Thanks to funding from BCAA, the program will now be more accessible to volunteer firefighters who might have otherwise gone without the training
"Resilient Minds is about recognizing when you're struggling with some of the calls you're dealing with and some of the stressors we have in our work, and then finding ways to mitigate that," explains Fraser.
Launched with Vancouver Fire in 2017, the educational program quickly spread across B.C. and is now in provinces and territories across Canada. Especially timely, as the province experiences one of its worst wildfire seasons on record, BCAA is focusing on supporting B.C.'s volunteer firefighters – including many who are on the ground now, protecting their communities.
The eight-hour program engages and informs first responders in four crucial areas relevant to their work: trauma, psychological distress, trauma-informed responses and building resiliency.
“The first step is to recognize when you're struggling, whether due to traumatic calls or wildfire threats to your community, and then to adopt some simple, effective responses”, Fraser explains. “However, it's also about knowing when – and how – to seek additional help when the need arises, and normalizing those conversations”, he adds, noting that on top of their year-round firefighting responsibilities, volunteers are balancing the additional stress of a full-time job on top of their role as a volunteer firefighter.
BCAA’s funding will allow the program to reach more firefighters, especially those in smaller or more remote corners of the province which may not have the resources to bring someone in to do the training.
"BCAA is focused on helping our province be more prepared and build its resilience when it comes to wildfires," explains Shawn Pettipas, BCAA’s Director of Corporate Purpose. “We recognize the mental stress that volunteer firefighters face when protecting their communities –from evacuating their own neighbourhoods to battling the wildfires themselves. Partnering with the CMHA VF to support our volunteer firefighters’ mental health is a key way we can do that.”
To learn more, visit bcaa.com/OursToProtect, Canadian Mental Health Association Vancouver-Fraser Branch at cmhavf.ca or to inquire about bringing Resilient Minds training to your community, go to cmha.ca/resilient-minds or email resilientminds@cmha.ca