First responders have 4x higher risk for symptoms of psychological disorders, compared to the average population.

Firefighters work hard to protect our communities, and their work has lasting impacts on their mental health long after the flames are put out. In BC, many regions are served by volunteer firefighters, yet these heroes have limited access to resilience training opportunities.

Protecting the psychological wellness of BC’s firefighters is more important than ever to enable them to defend against the growing threat of wildfires. We’re working to change this by partnering with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Vancouver-Fraser Branch (CMHA VF) to deliver its Resilient Minds® program to firefighters who serve BC’s remote and rural communities.

About Resilient Minds®

Resilient Minds is a program from the CMHA designed to enhance the personal resilience of first responders and the collective resilience of fire services through promoting a shift to a supportive, mentally fit culture. The program has supported hundreds of firefighters across Canada to develop strategies to mitigate and better manage occupational stress, mitigate trauma and boost psychological strength, with specific curriculum designed to serve the unique experience and needs of different first responder groups. Learn More