First Responder Mental Health

Gently Used to Irreparably Broken is a very personal view of what operational stress injury looks like from the perspective of three veteran first responders. Depression and anxiety disorders come in all shapes and sizes, and are catalysts for broken relationships, broken homes, and tragically, broken lives and suicide. This presentation was prompted because of the my own mental health crisis that arose while living the dream, and the ensuing hope of recovery.​

My career in public safety  and  as a first responder spans 30 years.  I have served as a Peace Officer and as a Firefighter and Emergency Medical Responder.  Following a deployment to the Slave Lake Wildfire in 2011, I began to suffer from a mental health crisis, thus beginning a long journey, recovering from depression and anxiety disorders. 

This presentation is offered to responder groups to raise awareness and to advocate for peer support and self-care for first responders and their families. I have delivered it to numerous fire departments and postsecondary health and community services students, including as a presenter at the 2017 Southern Alberta  Fire Training Conference and a presenter at Bow Valley College in 2021.​​

If your agency is interested in delivering this presentation to your members, navigate to the Contact Us page and let me know!