'Unimaginable challenges': Funding provided for police officers, firefighters, correctional workers, parademics
Long known as a very challenging career when it comes to mental health, first responders will have access to more support thanks to increased funding from the Ontario government.
The provincial government is investing $32 million to expand access to specialised mental health services for first responders and public safety personnel.
The government is making the investment through the 2025-26 Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel (MHS4PSP) program.
Launched in 2024, the program aims to provide specialised 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 at the time. “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.”
Mental health challenges for first responders
According to the Ontario government, roughly one in four first responders in Ontario will experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) at least once during their career.
"Because their work by definition often involves witnessing deaths and injuries, the number of potentially traumatic scenes they attend to in one week may be more than what some people experience in their lifetime," says an article by CAMH. "While they may become used to such scenes, particular calls may cause more distress, such as the deaths or major injuries of children."
Another challenge? First responders have typically worked in a “suck it up” culture, says CAMH.
"Thus, various types of stress reactions or even posttraumatic symptoms can gradually and progressively build up over time. Increasing numbers of traumatic incidents can result in cumulative trauma. The stigma associated with being a “helper” who then asks for help has tended to be prevalent in first responder organizations and can be a significant barrier to seeking much needed help."
Twenty per cent of first responders exceed the hazardous alcohol consumption threshold, according to David Wolff, provincial chair of the Ontario Paramedic Association’s Wellness Committee, in a Medscape article: "Some studies report that 23 per cent of public safety personnel screened positive for PTSD, and 26 per cent for major depressive disorder."
A large part of the pressures that paramedics face comprises “controllable stressors,” including toxic workplaces and psychosocial issues, in conjunction with the calls they go on. It’s a synergistic effect, according to Daniel Sundahl, a registered counselling therapist with the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association.
“Much of the culture that paramedics work in is negative-based reinforcement for behaviour change, rather than positive reinforcement. It’s not a supportive culture for paramedics to best manage the stresses of the job,” he told Medscape.
Previously, Nova Scotia announced it is providing wellbeing support to volunteer firefighters and volunteer members of ground search and rescue teams.
Who’s receiving funding from Ontario?
Receiving some of the latest funding from the Ontario government are:
|
Emergency Health Services |
Fire Services |
Police Services |
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Beausoleil First Nation - $30,000 |
City of Barrie - $25,000 |
Anishinabek Police Service - $30,000 |
|
City of Cornwall (Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance) - $30,000 |
City of Cambridge - $25,000 |
Brantford Police Services Board - $25,000 |
|
City of Cornwall - $25,000 |
City of Dryden - $30,000 |
Brockville Police Service - $25,000 |
|
City of Greater Sudbury - $30,000 |
City of Greater Sudbury - $30,000 |
Chatham-Kent Police Service Board - $25,000 |
|
City of Guelph (Guelph Wellington Paramedic Service) - $25,000 |
City of Guelph - $25,000 |
Cornwall Community Police Services Board - $25,000 |
|
City of Hamilton - $25,000 |
City of Kenora - $30,000 |
Durham Regional Police Service - $25,000 |
|
City of Kawartha Lakes - $25,000 |
City of Kenora (Ignace Fire Department) - $30,000 |
Guelph Police Service Board - $25,000 |
|
City of Kenora (Kenora Central Ambulance) - $30,000 |
City of Kenora (Sioux Lookout Emergency Services) - $30,000 |
Halton Regional Police Service - $25,000 |
|
City of Thunder Bay (Superior North EMS) - $30,000 |
City of Kingston - $25,000 |
Kawartha Lakes Police Service - $25,000 |
|
Cochrane District Social Services Admin. Board - $30,000 |
City of Kitchener - $25,000 |
London Police Service Board - $25,000 |
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County of Bruce - $25,000 |
City of London - $25,000 |
Niagara Regional Police Service - $25,000 |
|
County of Dufferin - $25,000 |
City of Markham - $25,000 |
North Bay Police Service - $30,000 |
|
County of Elgin - $25,000 |
City of Mississauga - $25,000 |
Peel Regional Police - $25,000 |
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County of Essex - $25,000 |
City of North Bay - $30,000 |
Port Hope Police Services Board - $25,000 |
|
County of Frontenac - $25,000 |
City of Orillia - $25,000 |
Saugeen Shores Police Service Board - $25,000 |
|
County of Grey - $25,000 |
City of Oshawa - $25,000 |
Sault Ste. Marie Police Service - $30,000 |
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County of Hastings - $25,000 |
City of Peterborough - $25,000 |
Six Nations Police Service - $30,000 |
|
County of Huron - $25,000 |
City of St. Thomas - $25,000 |
South Simcoe Police Service - $25,000 |
|
County of Lambton - $25,000 |
City of Sault Ste. Marie - $30,000 |
Stratford Police Services Board - $25,000 |
|
County of Lanark - $25,000 |
City of Thorold - $25,000 |
Thunder Bay Police Service - $30,000 |
|
County of Lennox and Addington - $25,000 |
City of Thunder Bay - $30,000 |
Timmins Police Service Board - $30,000 |
|
County of Middlesex - $25,000 |
City of Timmins - $30,000 |
Toronto Police Service - $25,000 |
|
County of Norfolk- $25,000 |
City of Toronto - $25,000 |
Waterloo Regional Police Service Board - $25,000 |
|
County of Northumberland - $25,000 |
City of Waterloo - $25,000 |
Windsor Police Service Board - $25,000 |
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County of Oxford - $25,000 |
County of Prince Edward - $25,000 |
|
|
County of Perth - $25,000 |
Haldimand County - $25,000 |
|
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County of Peterborough - $25,000 |
Municipality of Chatham-Kent - $25,000 |
|
|
County of Renfrew - $25,000 |
Municipality of Clarington - $25,000 |
|
|
District Municipality of Muskoka - $25,000 |
Municipality of North Middlesex - $25,000 |
|
|
District of Nipissing Social Services Admin. Board - $30,000 |
Municipality of North Perth - $25,000 |
|
|
District of Rainy River Social Services Admin. Board - $30,000 |
Municipality of Thames Centre - $25,000 |
|
|
District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Admin. Board - $30,000 |
Six Nations of the Grand River - $30,000 |
|
|
District of Timiskaming Social Services Admin. Board - $30,000 |
The Nation Municipality - $25,000 |
|
|
Haldimand County - $25,000 |
Town of Ajax - $25,000 |
|
|
Municipality of Chatham-Kent - $25,000 |
Town of Amherstburg - $25,000 |
|
|
Naotkamegwanning First Nation - $30,000 |
Town of Aylmer - $25,000 |
|
|
Oneida Nation of the Thames - $30,000 |
Town of Caledon - $25,000 |
|
|
Regional Municipality of Durham - $25,000 |
Town of Cobourg - $25,000 |
|
|
Regional Municipality of Peel - $25,000 |
Town of East Gwillimbury - $25,000 |
|
|
Regional Municipality of Waterloo - $25,000 |
Town of Essex - $25,000 |
|
|
Regional Municipality of York - $25,000 |
Town of Fort Erie - $25,000 |
|
|
United Counties of Leeds and Grenville - $25,000 |
Town of Goderich - $25,000 |
|
|
Weeneebayko Area Health Authority - $30,000 |
Town of Greater Napanee - $25,000 |
|
|
Town of Iroquois Falls - $30,000 |
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|
Town of Midland - $25,000 |
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|
Town of Milton - $25,000 |
||
|
Town of Minto - $25,000 |
||
|
Town of Minto (Mapleton Fire Rescue) - $25,000 |
||
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Town of Minto (Wellington North Fire Services) - $25,000 |
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Town of New Tecumseth - $25,000 |
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Town of Penetanguishene - $25,000 |
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|
Town of Petawawa - $25,000 |
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Town of Oakville - $25,000 |
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Town of Orangeville - $25,000 |
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|
Township of Centre Wellington - $25,000 |
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|
Township of Conmee - $30,000 |
||
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Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley - $25,000 |
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Township of Huntsville - $25,000 |
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Township of Loyalist - $25,000 |
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Township of Malahide - $25,000 |
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Township of Malahide (Bayham Fire & Emergency Services) - $25,000 |
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Township of Malahide (Southwood Fire Department) - $25,000 |
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Township of Malahide (West Elgin Fire Department) - $25,000 |
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Township of Minden Hills - $25,000 |
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Township of North Dundas - $25,000 |
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Township of North Glengarry - $25,000 |
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Township of North Stormont - $25,000 |
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Township of Puslinch - $25,000 |
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Township of South Glengarry - $25,000 |
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Township of Springwater - $25,000 |
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Township of Stone Mills - $25,000 |
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Wasauksing First Nation - $30,000 |
