Supporting mental health of first responders
Added pandemic stress taking a toll, writes Trudi Rondou.
B.C. first-responders experience traumas and stressors on the job unlike those of almost any other occupation. The added stress of being essential workers during COVID-19 highlights the importance of caring for our mental health more than ever before.
Research has long shown that first-responders are at a higher risk of mental-health injuries and, at the same time, the stigma surrounding mental health in their workplaces can be a serious obstacle to getting help.
In 2019, 5,440 new mental-health disorder claims were reported to Worksafebc. Of those, 173 were from front-line workers, including paramedics, police officers, firefighters and correctional officers. It's a statistic that continues to rise among first-responders, and it requires that we have difficult but important conversations.
In the past year, first-responders have been forced to keep up with constantly changing practices in response to the pandemic. In what was already a high-pressure, high risk environment, they have had to adapt to a completely new way of doing their jobs — donning full PPE with each encounter to protect them from the heightened risk of contracting COVID -19.
While navigating the same personal toll the pandemic has had on all of us, they face increased concerns about the health and safety of their loved ones owing to their higher-than-normal risk at work. The change has been abrupt and intense — for first-responders, their families and their leaders.
While vaccine rollouts provide a light at the end of the tunnel, the reality is that increased stress on the job is likely to continue for our first-responder community. As many have said, this pandemic is a marathon, not a sprint. As we approach the end of the race, we are tired, depleted. Some of the things that have kept us going — including the seven o'clock cheers to lift spirits — have dissipated. Some of the coping mechanisms we used to turn to for reprieve aren't possible due to public health orders. The daily grind of a tough job, made tougher by a pandemic, is taking its toll. So how can we continue to support those on the front lines through these last few kilometres of the race?
A recent series of mental health webinars hosted by the B.C. First Responders Mental Health Committee — a committee representing labour and management — saw more than 1,000 participants in each of six sessions. The virtual events created opportunities for conversations about mental health in the first-responder community and aimed to help break down barriers and stigma surrounding the subject.
Three leaders who attended — Supt. Andrew Chan of the Vancouver police; Jane Hamilton of B.C. Emergency Health Services; and Ryan Stewart of the District of North Vancouver Fire Fighters Union — said COVID-19 has significantly impacted their teams. So they have implemented coping strategies to support first-responders. Celebrating wins, practising gratitude, focusing on teamwork and emphasizing honest communication are key themes that have made a significant difference to individual and team morale, and emotional resiliency.
Registered psychologist Dr. Mark Davies said the average workday for a first-responder revolves around intense problem-solving. COVID-19 poses a different challenge: It's not a problem they can solve, and it can be hard to shift away from negative thoughts. Finding moments to focus on the good, such as celebrating team achievements and creating opportunities for gratitude, can have a hugely positive impact, he stressed.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Vivian Lee highlighted the importance of talking about mental wellness and sharing resources at the workplace and at home. With the pandemic still front-and-centre, alongside the opioid addiction and overdose crisis in our communities, first-responders remain a lifeline for all British Columbians.
It benefits all of us to support a proactive approach to mental health and wellness for these essential workers because while they're helping us, we must ensure that they, too, are being supported.
The mental health webinars are available for viewing on the conference's website: bcfirstrespondersmentalhealth.com. Organizational leaders, colleagues, and family and friends will find tool kits that include signs and symptoms to look for, support guides and recommended practices that can help transform workplace culture.