By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

Emergency Services Members Learn About the Importance of Mental Health

Apr 19, 2016 | 4:04 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Instructors from the Mental Health Commission of Canada are providing the first joint mental health training class of it’s kind across the country to Lethbridge and area emergency services members.

The “Road to Mental Readiness” (R2MR) program is the second phase in the Lethbridge Police Service Employee Wellness Program.

It ws initiated last year by Inspector Jason Dobirstein, who oversees the Support Services Section, after a review of the department’s policies and practices. Registered psychologist, Dr. Kerry Bernes, was then hired to provide further staff support.

Bernes is available to all sworn and non-sworn members in the immediate aftermath of traumatic events, and can even assist incident commanders and crisis negotiators.

“What it comes down to is it’s really something we haven’t even spent a lot of time talking about, and getting to the point where it’s OK for you to say ‘I’m not dealing with that incident very well’,” Dobirstein noted.

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“[We’re trying] to get to that point. I think we’ve missed the boat and we’re going to fix it.”

The R2MR program was developed by the Department of National Defence to reduce the stigma surround mental illness, increase awareness, offer resources and promote positive environments.

The five-day course started on April 18, with members from not just Lethbridge emergency services. Fire and EMS from Golden and Elkford joined, as well as a police officer from Camrose.

The class of 24 will attend the class and then go back to train their own staff.

Remaining LPS staff, including non-sworn staff, will take the course within the next few months. Dobirstein also added that the newest class of recruits will receive the R2MR training, as well as additional training from Dr. Bernes.

(The video below shows how instructor Sergio Falzi works through the mock scenarios with the class)

by Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

Emergency Services Members Learn About the Importance of Mental Health

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