For immediate release
November 12, 2019
Canada’s first mental health directory to support first responders launches today
Vancouver, BC – The Directory of Occupationally Aware Clinicians brings more than 150 specially trained mental health professionals just a click away for BC fire fighters and other first responders. The online database gives users the opportunity to access vetted mental health clinicians who are trained to best serve their unique needs, which stem from the operational stress they are exposed to on the job.
“British Columbia’s first responders are asking for help. Every day, I get an email or call from a fire fighter requesting a clinician referral. Partnering with the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association and the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, our shared vision is to deliver support in an accessible and immediate way to keep first responders safe,” says Matt Johnston, Surrey fire fighter and founder of First Responder Health.
The directory was established in response to research showing that public safety personnel are at an increased risk of mental health issues such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. A 2017 Canadian study found that 44.5 per cent of the 6,000 fire fighters, police, dispatchers, correctional workers, and paramedics who were surveyed struggled with symptoms consistent with one or more psychological disorder. For the general population, the average is much lower at 10 per cent.
“Many of our members struggle in silence because of a lack of treatment providers who understand the trauma fire fighters face while working to keep our communities safe. We must change this narrative by getting them the help they need from specially trained clinicians,” says Gord Ditchburn, President, BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association.
The directory clinicians are handpicked from a growing network of trained psychologists and registered clinical counsellors who have gone through training on how to enhance their therapeutic skills in building meaningful relationships with first responders.
The Directory of Occupationally Aware Clinicians is the result of a two year initiative to identify and train these healthcare professionals. Members of the directory have gone through two day trauma training workshops where they learned how to support the needs of public safety personnel and their family members.
The Occupational Awareness Training: Treating First Responder Trauma Program is supported by the BC First Responder Mental Health Committee, which is chaired by WorkSafeBC, and was developed by Johnston and Steve Farina, Lower Mainland Vice President, BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association and Chair of the Mental Health Taskforce. The two-day program is an entry point to working with first responders and compliments the advanced training that all of network clinicians have received. Many of the clinicians have also completed the two-day level two program, which features a variety of recognized experts in the field of trauma, resiliency and healing, with a specific application to members of public safety personnel and their families.
"What I love about this directory is that it includes a group of truly humble, curious and talented mental health professionals that have taken the time to immerse themselves in our first responder culture, language, hierarchy and unionized work environment,” says Farina. “Understanding the nuances of chain of command, available benefits and the landscape of the fire service is crucial when taking on first responder clients, because we are a unique group with our own distinct challenges.”
The directory was designed to be accessible and easy to navigate. For this reason, it does not have a paywall, data mining or advertising. First responders can access support by booking an online counselling session or by using the directory to quickly and easily search for a clinician nearby. The platform can be accessed online or via an app to deliver counselling services to those who need it, when they need it.
To access the directory, visit www.firstresponderhealth.org/directory
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MEDIA CONTACT
Nicole Clark
Director of Communications
BC Professional Fire Fighters Association
P: 604.436.5617
E: communications@bcpffa.org
