First responders in the City of Kawartha Lakes will be using $50,000 in provincial government funding to take care of their own.
The Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service and the Kawartha Lakes Police Service have each received a $25,000 grant through Ontario’s Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel (MHS4PSP) program to enhance mental health and wellness initiatives for their front-line staff.
The funding targets mental health and wellness initiatives for employees, such as providing first responders with access to specialized training and resources that address the unique pressures and trauma associated with emergency response work.
The Ontario government announced the MHS4PSP program last November with a $32 million budget to provide specialized services for police officers, firefighters, correctional workers, paramedics, and others who support Ontario’s public safety system.
This November, the province announced grants to 72 fire services, 43 emergency health services, and 24 police services across Ontario.
Services in northern Ontario received $30,000 grants and services in southern Ontario received $25,000 grants.
With paramedics in Kawartha Lakes responding to nearly 14,000 calls annually, the Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service will use the $25,000 grant to provide advanced training for its peer support team, superintendents, and front-line staff.
“We are very appreciative of the opportunity to improve mental health and resiliency support for our paramedic service,” said Jamie Golden, Kawartha Paramedic Services’ deputy chief, in a statement.
“Over the next four months, we will use this access to training to assist our staff with a focus on mental health promotion, resiliency-building and early intervention measures tailored to the occupational stresses associated with the work our staff perform daily.”
In 2024, the Kawartha Lakes Police Service responded to just under 17,000 calls. The service will use its $25,000 grant to offer enhanced resiliency training and initiatives that strengthen peer support.
“Our officers have a demanding job, both physically and mentally, which takes a toll on their overall health,” said Kawartha Lakes Police Sergeant Ryan Boutin in a statement. “Shift work, exposure to traumatic events, and the constant need to make critical decisions under pressure can be overwhelming.”
“The training opportunities provided through this funding will help ensure that everyone in our organization has the tools to maintain their mental and physical well-being.”
In addition to Kawartha Lakes paramedics and police, $25,000 grants under the MHS4PSP program were allocated in the Kawarthas region to the Port Hope police, Peterborough County paramedics, City of Peterborough fire services, Cobourg fire services, and Minden Hills fire services.
The Ontario government selected Warrior Health as the vendor to design and deliver the services and programs for the MHS4PSP program. The consortium brings together over 300 years of combined mental health expertise and more than 1,000 mental health professionals, treatment providers, navigators, and volunteers from industry-leading organizations such as Wounded Warriors Canada, Homewood Health, CAMH, Trillium Health Partners, and Boots on the Ground.
Services and programs for the MHS4PSP program include a website and mobile app offering public safety personnel confidential and anonymous access to services such as internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, self-screening tools, educational resources, and round-the-clock support. Warrior Health also offers 156 fee-for-service programs including general wellness, peer support, leadership, mindfulness, anti-stigma programs, and pre-employment mental health screening.
