Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. Anyone can suffer from this condition, but it is more common in people that serve in front-line services including Military, Police, Fire Service, Medical Trauma Professionals and First Responders. If you need help with a situation that has resulted from your service to the department or outside of the department please read on.

Don’t let old stigma’s of mental health prevent you from talking about it. It is NOT a sign of mental weakness – no more than Diabetes is a sign of mental weakness. There are two ways you can seek help.

• Via Metro Vancouver, we have access to a 100% confidential counselling through the “Employee Family Assistance Program”  offered by the professionals at Homewood Health. These services are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year and can be reached at 1.800.663.1142.  This is available to you and your family free of charge. No-one in the department has access or knowledge of any information shared with your counselor or knowledge of any appointments that have been made.

• Some members in the department have been trained in offering counselling via the CISM methodology. If you feel comfortable you can have a completely confidential discussion with any one of these members. Dave Anderson, Nigel Terrett, Mike Bolam, Will Crocker. In addition Nigel Terrett and Mike Bolam have been trained in suicide prevention techniques.