First responders are repeatedly exposed to distressing situations, violence, trauma, and death. They also encounter daily workplace stressors such as heavy workloads, rotating shifts, and, occasionally, discrimination and bullying. These can have an immediate detrimental impact on some individuals; for others, the negative effects build up over weeks, months, or even years. Occupational stress injuries are affecting first responders across Canada.
You may be a Chief, a supervisor, a shop steward, manager of a wellness program, or in another leadership position in a first responder organization and you want to create a safe, supportive environment for those experiencing mental health challenges. But where do you start?
On January 31st and February 1st 2019, the BC First Responders Mental Health Conference will be held in Richmond, B.C. Gain insights, resources and strategies to promote positive mental health with first responders.
Hear from leaders in the field, including: Retired Fire Chief Bobby Halton on mental wellness and how to couple this with the operational conditions and pressures which responders routinely encounter; Police Chief Neil Dubord, an expert in critical incident command and recipient of the Queens Diamond Jubilee medal; and Dr. Duncan Shields, who is currently developing and evaluating a First Responder Resiliency Program to support personnel coping with operational stress injuries, and to create a more inclusive and supportive work culture.
For more information, please visit http://conference.bcfirstrespondersmentalhealth.com