ONTARIO EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL
We’re proud to announce the Ontario government is investing more than $32 million to ensure first responders and public safety personnel have access to mental health supports. The new Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel program (MHS4PSP) will provide specialized services for police officers, firefighters, correctional workers, paramedics and others who support Ontario’s public safety system.
“First responders and public safety personnel have our backs every day and we will always have theirs,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “This new program will ensure Ontario’s selfless heroes, who put their lives on the line daily for us, receive targeted mental health supports that match the unimaginable challenges they face.”
Following a rigorous selection process, Warrior Health has been selected as the successful vendor to design and deliver the services and programs for the MHS4PSP program. Warrior Health is unique because it combines over 300 years of expertise from Homewood Health, Wounded Warriors Canada, CAMH, Trillium Health Partners and Boots on the Ground – leading organizations in mental health care, research, and trauma-informed services. The initiative is designed specifically for the culturally unique and high-stress experiences of PSP, ensuring that services are tailored to their needs, including those of Indigenous, racialized, and minoritized communities.
“On behalf of our Warrior Health consortium partners at Wounded Warriors Canada, Homewood Health, Trillium Health Partners, Boots on the Ground and CAMH, we are excited to announce this innovative new program. Collectively, Warrior Health represents over 300 years of experience and expertise and is at the forefront of research and delivery of mental health services. The service delivery model will support the province in establishing a mental health platform that is trauma-informed, culturally specific, confidential, and responsive to the unique needs of public safety organizations, public safety personnel, and their families across Ontario.” Scott Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer – Wounded Warriors Canada
The Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel program will also support the creation of an Anti-Stigma Strategy designed to remove potentially harmful stigmas around asking for help. Based on the findings of the Staying visible, staying connected, for life report, the goal of the strategy is to help create work environments where people feel confident to seek mental health support. It will include:
- A website with mental health resources specific to public safety personnel
- A leadership support network
- Training to equip leaders with the skills and knowledge to support mental health in their organizations
- Recommended mental health practices for organizations
The program initiatives and the Anti-Stigma Strategy will roll out in phases. A call for applications, inviting organizations to apply for funding under the grant, will be rolled out in early 2025.
