NORTHUMBERLAND PARAMEDICS PARTNERS WITH WOUNDED WARRIORS CANADA TO SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDER MENTAL HEALTH
Cobourg, ON – July 10, 2019 – Today, Northumberland Paramedics announced a new partnership with Wounded Warriors Canada that will further enhance the mental health resources in place for local paramedics and their families.
“Our first responders face unique pressures while serving our community and supporting residents in their times of need,” states Acting County Warden Bob Sanderson. “In turn, Northumberland County strives to ensure that proper measures are in place to recognize and support any staff member experiencing mental health challenges. We are very pleased that, through this partnership, Northumberland Paramedics will have access to innovative programing that is specifically tailored to assist first responders affected by operational stress, and the family members who support them.”
“We are extremely proud to partner with Northumberland Paramedics,” states Wounded Warriors Canada Executive Director Scott Maxwell. “When a First Responder is struggling, it doesn’t matter where, when or how their injury occurred. What matters is that the members and their families know that we are in this together — working to ensure they receive the mental health care they so rightly deserve.”
With this new partnership, Northumberland Paramedics will have direct access to core programs funded and facilitated through Wounded Warriors Canada. These include a Trauma Resiliency Program, Couples Overcoming PTSD Everyday (COPE), PTSD Service Dog Program, and Couples Based Equine Therapy. Before Operational Stress (BOS) training is also offered, which includes theoretical, practical and experiential learning that is designed to help participants build resiliency and enhance their mental health. These innovative programs are all facilitated by trained clinicians and use best practices and evidence-informed care to create an environment of compassion, resiliency and hope.
“It is important that our staff is well supported with programs and policies that meet the varying needs of our team,” states Northumberland Paramedics Chief Bill Detlor. “In addition to the County’s mental health programs and policies, this partnership with Wounded Warriors Canada is another opportunity to strengthen the support system in place for our paramedic team by providing insightful education and information related to preserving mental health when responding to the unique demands of this profession, and recovering from trauma. We commend the Northumberland Paramedics Health and Safety Committee for their dedication in bringing this program forward for our staff.”
