Often when someone calls 911, itB次元官网网址檚 one of the worst days of their life.
For first responders, itB次元官网网址檚 part of their everyday schedule.
B次元官网网址淔irst responders see so much traumatic and horrific incidents, and deal with it daily, weekly monthly, and over a career,B次元官网网址� said Fire Chief Karen Fry of the Nanaimo Fire Department. B次元官网网址淭he difference is first responders are living in a war zone; they donB次元官网网址檛 get to return to their home country, a safe zone. Every corner they drive by reminds them of an incident.B次元官网网址�
ThatB次元官网网址檚 why itB次元官网网址檚 important to talk about mental health, Fry said. She will be presenting this week at the first BC First ResponderB次元官网网址檚 Mental Health Conference, and talk about leadership in fire service. Twenty-two first responders from Greater Victoria are attending, and a total of 62 are going to the conference from Vancouver Island and the South Coast.
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Fry said an important recent change to normalizing mental health is adjusting the vernacular around it. When someone is struggling with PTSD or stress, she said they go on leave with a B次元官网网址渟tress-related injury.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 something that helps reduce stigma with mental health issues, which paint it like thereB次元官网网址檚 something wrong with you, and people struggle with that,B次元官网网址� Fry said. B次元官网网址淏ut if you break your leg or hurt your back at work, youB次元官网网址檙e set up with adequate resources and an occupational therapist to get you back to work.B次元官网网址�
Fry said that in 2018 alone, the Nanaimo Fire Department had five of their 100 staff take extended time off for stress-related injuries. Fry herself has struggled with stress, and sought help to work through it.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 another level for first responders in a supervisor role, because people supporting their team are going through their own stress and supporting others; theyB次元官网网址檙e bearing quite a lot.B次元官网网址�
The Oak Bay Fire Department saw this first hand in March 2018 when their chaplain, and team life-line, Ken Gill died by suicide.
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While many issues are common across the province, Fry said that Vancouver Island seeB次元官网网址檚 an abnormally-high number of motor vehicle accidents, and deaths and overdoses related to the opioid crisis.
B次元官网网址淎 growing problem is B次元官网网址榗ompassion fatigue,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Fry said. B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e reviving the same person over and over again, it can really affect a person.B次元官网网址�
Fry said that while work standards are getting better with mental health, thereB次元官网网址檚 still more to be desired, including the time it takes for people to realize something is wrong versus being diagnosed.
In the meantime, fire departments are advocating for more peer-to-peer support, an open door to supervisors and family or spouse days to encourage those who might notice issues first to come forward.
The most prominent early signs of PTSD, Fry said, are sleep deprivation, weight loss and hyper vigilance. She added that 37 per cent of fire fighters would have enough criteria checked off to be diagnosed with PTSD, if they sought treatment.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really proud of the organizations taking the lead to make this an important part of it, to make it okay to talk about,B次元官网网址� Fry said.
For more information on the conference, visit
For more information on PTSD, or for mental health resources across the Island, visit the or the.
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