Whereas psychological-only injury workplace claims have increased five-fold in British Columbia since 2018, particularly within the public safety sector; And whereas fire and police personnel suffer from occupational stress injuries at rates four times that of the general population, resulting in symptoms of anxiety, depression and trauma which, as a result the demands of their service to our communities, affect their work and personal lives; And whereas since 2019, over 500 first responders from local governments across BC have participated in the BC First Responder Resiliency Program FRRP, an educational retreat operating in partnership between the University of British Columbia, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health, the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association, the British Columbia Police Association, the Vancouver Police Union, and the Vancouver Police Department, resulting in positive, evidence-based outcomes lasting at least six months past program completion: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province to provide two years of funding for the BC First Responder Resiliency Program to ensure continuous support for first responders across the province while longer-term funding models are developed, ensuring program participants, their employee associationsunions, families and communities, do not bear the direct cost of providing occupational health and safety education for British Columbias public safety personnel; And be it further resolved that UBCM ask British Columbias Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour, and Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to collaborate with FRRP interest holder organizations to develop mental health and wellness policies, regulations, and funding mechanisms to ensure the long-term viability and expansion of this program for the benefit of all British Columbia first responders, in communities across the province.
