What is the First Responders' Clinic?
Whether or not you are new to the field or well into your career, our clinic is designed to meet your mental health needs. Given the challenges of being a first responder, we know that your job is going to affect your mental health. For this reason, we have built an evidence-based specialty clinic to help with your overall wellness.
Research has shown that early intervention and prevention strategies can help offset the accumulating impact of trauma and other occupational stress injuries. Within our First Responders’ Clinic, we offer baseline assessments of mental health, as well as diagnostic assessments for psychological conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia and substance misuse, among others. Using the
mental health continuum
we can help to design an individualized treatment plan to meet your specific and unique wellness needs and goals.
Why did we create the First Responder's Clinic?
First responders regularly face operational and organizational stressors at work that put them at higher risk for mental disorders compared to individuals who work in other careers. The latest Canadian research has shown that 44.5% of first responders report symptoms that are consistent with at least one mental disorder (see
Carleton et al., 2018). We know that many first responders take their wellness seriously but that sometimes, people may underestimate the impact their job has on their lives or turn to using unhealthy strategies to cope. We also know that personal stressors, such as marital discord or parenting issues, can exacerbate work difficulties and become overwhelming.
We are here for you.