(CJME News Staff)

By CJME Staff

Mental health tools

‘It’s OK to not be OK’: Online mental health tool helps Sask. first responders

Feb 22, 2021 | 5:00 PM

They’re the heroes who deal with life’s most traumatic and dangerous scenarios, but where do the heroes go when they’re the ones who need help?

Several hundred first responders and other Public Safety Personnel (PSP) have taken advantage of a made-in-Saskatchewan online tool to address mental health needs, known as PSPNET.

The program first launched in the province in early 2020 at the University of Regina as a pilot, right before COVID-19 arrived. In September of last year, the program was expanded to Quebec.

In the first year, the university said more than 200 individuals had signed up, comprised of 160 in Saskatchewan and 41 in Quebec. More than 100 clients have finished the program.

“It’s OK that a call impacted you. We’re only human, and it’s what you do after that impact that’s really important — getting the help early,” said Sgt. Joy Prince with RCMP “F” Division.

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The confidential, accessible and free online resource is available 24 hours a day seven days a week to current, retired or volunteer police officers, firefighters, paramedics, correctional employees and border services agents, among others.

Online learning modules are paired with a weekly connection to a therapist, via email or phone.

Donna Milo works for EMS within the Saskatchewan Health Authority. She said it can be hard to ask for help, and added it takes a different kind of strength to protect and help yourself.

“People still see it as, ‘I’m here to protect, I’m here to help, I’m here to serve. There can’t be anything wrong with me. I have to be strong,’ and not realizing that, truly, strength comes from taking care of everyone, including yourself,” Milo explained.

Both Milo and Prince agreed there’s less of a stigma around getting specialized care for things like anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress than there used to be. However, more work needs to be done.

“The stigma and the culture is changing where we’re working toward, ‘It’s OK. If you’re struggling, it’s OK to not be OK,’ ” said Prince.

The federal government has put up $10 million to fund PSPNET through 2023. The team at the university is working on a plan to continue the program beyond that, while expanding it throughout Canada.