A recent Toronto Star article and letter from the head of the Ontario Provincial Police Association to its members brings attention to the deaths-by-suicide of three officers over the past month. CMHA Ontario, and its nationwide workplace mental health program Mental Health Works, stand with all those mourning this most recent loss.
In the last several years, because of trailblazing work by advocates and those with lived-experience, the national conversation regarding suicide and the risks faced by our first responders has brought into focus the importance of psychological health and safety within our workplaces. Talking about suicide is a vital first step in destigmatizing thoughts of self-harm, which enables people suffering to reach out for help.
We commend the courage it takes to speak up about suicide, and the work being done currently by the OPP Association and leadership. CMHA Ontario and Ontario’s CMHA Branches remain committed to serving-those-who-serve and working with all partners to ensure access to community mental health programming and services throughout the Province.
Suicide affects police officers at a rate twice-that of the national average. For paramedics, the risk is four-times the national rate. The reasons for this are complex, but central to the statistic is the fact that our police and paramedical services are called to respond to events that present a tremendous risk of traumatic stress to the individual. These, for the lay-person, would often be described as “our worst day.”
As part of this effort, Mental Health Works will be hosting a public webinar on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Operational Stress Injury from noon to 1 pm on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Visit https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5321339803352619265 to register for the webinar.
If you work in the first responder community, and would like an in-person workshop at your workplace, please contact lblake@ontario.cmha.ca.