On February 1, 2016, the Ontario Ministry of Labour announced a number of new initiatives to help prevent or mitigate PTSD among first responders such as police, firefighters and paramedics.
Research suggests that first responders are twice as likely as the general population to experience PTSD due to exposure to traumatic events in the course of their duty.
Research suggests that first responders are twice as likely as the general population to experience PTSD due to exposure to traumatic events in the course of their duty.
The province’s new prevention strategy has four major elements:
- The creation of a radio and digital campaign aimed at increasing awareness about PTSD amongst first responders, their families and communities and eliminating the stigma that too often prevents those in need from seeking help
- An annual leadership summit to highlight best practices, recognize leaders, and monitor progress in dealing with PTSD
- A free online toolkit with resources on PTSD tailored to meet the needs of employers and each of the first responder sectors
- Grants for research that supports the prevention of PTSD.
The announcement aims to be the first (or preventative) portion of a comprehensive strategy to respond to PTSD. The government has indicated that it intends to introduce legislative measures to respond to PTSD in the workplace as well
The Toronto Star reported that groups such as the Ontario Professional Firefighters Association welcomed the government’s announcement. Opposition Leader Patrick Brown, while praising the new measures, also cautioned that the program does “little to help” first-responders who have had claims rejected by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) over the years. The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa echoed his concerns, calling the announcement “a plan…with no plan” on Twitter.
For more information on the announcement, visit the government of Ontario website.