Home / Health / First Responders' Mental Health: A Silent Battle
First Responders' Mental Health: A Silent Battle
13 Jan
Summary
- Public safety workers face significant mental health challenges.
- River Valley Resilience Retreat offers vital peer support.
- PTSD affects 44% of Canadian first responders, much higher than general population.
Many public safety personnel, including firefighters and police officers, struggle with operational stress injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to repeated exposure to trauma. Alex Milonas, a firefighter, shared how his career began with training for physical injuries but lacked preparation for the mental toll of traumatic incidents.
Organizations like River Valley Resilience Retreat (RVRR) are stepping in to fill this gap, offering peer support networks for frontline responders, veterans, and other trauma-exposed professionals. RVRR saw a steady increase in clients, with over 2,600 served in 2024, indicating a growing need for their services.
Health Canada reports that PTSD affects nine percent of Canadians, but the rate is significantly higher among first responders at 44 percent. RVRR, located south of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, provides a safe haven with cabins and in-person support, emphasizing early intervention and resilience-building strategies to combat the accumulating effects of trauma.
