Ontario Recognizes Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day for the First Time

On June 27th, for the first time in Ontario’s history, our government recognized Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day. To raise awareness of PTSD and help people coping with PTSD move beyond stigma, we are taking one step forward to support those on the road to recovery.

I’d like to acknowledge my colleague, MPP Will Bouma, for all of his hard work to raise awareness for PTSD. As a volunteer firefighter, MPP Bouma has first-hand knowledge of the challenges involved with PTSD and we thank him for his continued efforts to support the brave men and women who serve as our first responders.

While anyone can suffer from PTSD, first responders face a particularly significant risk to their health and well-being as they are regularly exposed to traumatic situations. PTSD Awareness Day is a chance to honour our frontline heroes, who put their lives on the line every day to protect us and our communities. Veterans, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and correctional officers, have incredibly difficult jobs and come face to face with difficult situations on a daily basis. In doing so, they expose themselves to traumatic events that can lead to mental health issues of their own. Our first responders are there for us when we need them and it is our duty to return that support when they need it.

That’s why I was pleased to announce earlier this year that our government is investing $18.3 million dollars in new funding to support those affected by mental health and addictions challenges in our justice sector. These investments will help provide direct supports to correctional officers facing operational stress and other mental health issues. It will also provide training for corrections staff to help manage stressful situations with inmates who face mental health and addictions challenges of their own. This training introduces mindfulness-based wellness and resilience programming into correctional services that will support correctional staff to manage stress, enhance personal mental health and help to reduce injuries related to occupational stress, including PTSD.

In addition, our government has allocated $3.8 billion over 10 years to develop and implement a comprehensive and connected mental health and addictions strategy in Ontario. As part of this strategy, we have invested in new mobile crisis teams that will help police officers and other first responders manage sensitive situations when assisting people with severe mental illness.

I’m also proud that our government is partnering with the Ontario Provincial Police Association to offer a new mental health support program to help OPP personnel and their families. This collaboration is an important first step to improving mental health for our province’s first responders. These investments and partnerships will go directly towards services in the justice sector that will support the brave men and women who keep us safe, while improving community safety for all Ontarians.

In Dufferin-Caledon, a number of organizations currently have PTSD Prevention Plans, including fire services, paramedic services, police services and municipalities. These plans outline the need to prevent stigma through training and education, fair complaints processes, and by monitoring organizational practices.

Our government is committed to helping people coping with post-traumatic stress disorder. Recognizing PTSD Awareness Day is an example of one more way we’re supporting Ontarians on their journey toward mental wellness.

For local resources in Dufferin-Caledon, first responders can access support from the following organizations:

  • Canadian Mental Health Association, Peel at 1-888-278-9036
  • Peel Region – Spectra Helpline Caledon at 1-877-298-5444
  • Canadian Mental Health Association, Peel Dufferin Branch – Orangeville at 519-941-0465
  • Services and Housing in the Province (SHIP) – Mental Health Consultation – Dufferin County at 905-795-8742

If you have any questions about PTSD Awareness Day, please call my office at 1-800-265-1603 or visit www.sylviajonesmpp.ca.

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