Canadian group ‘sounding the alarm’ on first responders struggling to receive psychological care

The CEO of Diversified Rehabilitation Group discusses how they are sounding the alarm on inadequate care for first responders with psychological injuries.

A B.C.-based group wants first responders struggling to receive care for their psychological injuries to know they are not alone and there are resources available to help them.

Diversified Rehabilitation Group’s chief mental health officer and CEO kickstarted their month-long ‘Sounding the Alarm’ campaign by writing an opinion piece titled, “We are failing our first responders when they are in need.”

Derek Sienko said the campaign’s goal is to bring awareness to both first responders and the public.

“We are not doing enough for our first responders. And to normalize mental health and letting them know that help is there and what they are experiencing is absolutely normal and that they are worthy of receiving that help,” he said during an interview with CTV Morning Live Atlantic.

Sienko said what makes first responders’ trauma unique is the amount of it they experience while on the job.

“In a couple months, for example, of being on the job, they experience so much trauma… and on top of that, their risk for psychological injury or occupational injuries goes up. And we need to recognize that, given the circumstances and uniqueness of their job, we need to do a better job when it comes to designing and offering their treatment,” he said.

Sienko added there are many reasons first responders are often reluctant to seek help, with the most common being organizational stigma.

“Frequently first responders feel that if they let the organization know that they are not feeling well they might be either suspended from the job or they’re going to be perceived as broken,” he said. “And there’s also individual stigma – when they think they should be strong enough and they should be able to handle all the stress that comes up on them and frequently they think that they don’t deserve to get help.”

Sienko said first responders’ treatment needs to be tailored to their individual needs.

“Just yesterday I received a call from first responder saying, ‘I want to get help, but I have nothing in common with addiction and they are sending me to a program that has people with addiction and I’m going to be mixed with the general population.’ And for them to be amongst civilians, for example a police officer, and they are sitting next to a citizen, but for example you give them a speeding ticket, you’re not going to be able to open up,” he said.

Sienko said people need to be more aware of what first responders go through.

“It’s unique because in most cases they are the ones who are running to the building that’s on fire while you’re running away,” he said.

First responders looking for resources can visit psdrecovery.ca.

“You are not alone, help is there, what you are experiencing is absolutely normal. You’re not broken, you’re injured… we want to be there for you,” said Sienko, who also had a message for the public.

“When you encounter first responders, they are human beings who are there for us and we need to be there for them, so thank them for the job and let them know that help is there.”