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.
Ministry of Labour The Province appreciates the important work that first responders undertake to protect citizens and their property in British Columbia. The Province has introduced a number of initiatives to support the mental health of first responders, and that work is ongoing. Government established a mental health presumption under the Workers Compensation Act for first responders and other occupations, so they have faster access to treatment and workers compensation benefits if a psychological injury is diagnosed. The presumption helps ensure that the workers who we count on to care for others also receive the support they need. In, 2024, government announced 300,000 of funding over two years for the BC Municipal Safety Association BCMSA to expand the BC Fire Fighter Occupational Awareness Training to BC Wildfire Service members. Moving forward, the program will continue to be provided and supported by BCMSA. In December 2015, the BC First Responders Mental Health Committee was formed, which is a multi-agency committee representing labour and management from both urban and rural communities. Chaired by WorkSafeBC, the committee works collaboratively to provide cross-organizational leadership and recommend practices that promote positive mental health for first responders across the province. Additionally, BC Emergency Health Services BCEHS and the Ambulance Paramedics of BC are working together to build a collaborative mental health and wellness strategy for BCEHS. As part of this work, BCEHS continues to expand the Critical Incident Stress Management program by adding resources to a network of trauma-informed, occupationally competent therapists and counsellors who provide psychological care. BCEHS also remains focused on developing educational resources on psychological safety, workplace mental health, and resilience. The Office of the Fire Commissioner is also engaged in the Interagency Motor Vehicle Incident Response Strategic Protocol Committee chaired by Dawn Hinze, Integrated Transportation Infrastructure Services Division. This work is focused on an interagency protocol agreement, and the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness manages rural road rescue requests. The Province appreciates the resolutions advocacy on behalf of first responders and their mental health, and will continue to consider opportunities to support programs and services that help address mental health challenges in the province including programs such as the First Responder Resiliency Program.