The Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Fire Services Announces funding support from Minister Steve Kent, to develop a training program, addressing the needs of Crisis Support to the provinces first responders
The association of fire services is continuing their mission to enhance the fire services in the province today, as they announce their commitment to develop and deliver a training program, to address the needs of emotional and psychological first aid services to first responders. This program will be developed and delivered along with key partners who include, Fire & Emergency Services NL, St. John’s Regional Fire Department, and The Salvation Army CISM group.
Currently there are very few resources for first responders to access, following a response to a traumatic event, such as major accidents, fatalities from fires, or other such situations that involve high stress environments. Many of the first responders in the province are left to find their own resources, and to rely on their own personal resilience. It will be the aim of the Crisis Support Team - Newfoundland & Labrador (CST-NL) to train selected first responders with Critical Incident Stress Management Techniques on a regional basis.
The plan for the development of this program, will be to recruit, train, and develop peer responders in 4 specific areas - St. John's, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook/Deer Lake, and Labrador. These peer response teams would then travel throughout their areas, providing assistance, at no cost to the first responders in need of emotional and psychological first aid services.
While this program will be provided at no cost to the first responders in need of such service, the development of the program and the training involved, is quite costly. As such, the Association of Fire Services has sought the support of the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador, and more specifically, Deputy Premier, and Minister responsible for Health & Community Services, Steve Kent, who has made a significant commitment to this program.
"From our very first conversations regarding this program with Minister Kent, it was quite evident that he has a passion and dedication for addressing the needs of Mental Health for our first responders in this province, and he has come through in a big way. It his commitment to ensuring our first responders have the resources available to get help after such incidents, that is going to get this program off the ground. Today we are very pleased to announce, that Minister Kent has committed $25,000 toward the development, recruitment, and training of peer first responders in Labrador. Without this level of support from Minister Kent, launching this program would not be feasible."
- Trevor Rideout - Executive Director - NL Association of Fire Services
The CST-NL will be a subcommittee of the Association of Fire Services, with representation from Fire & Emergency Services NL, St. John's Regional Fire Department, the Salvation Army CISM group, and other members (such as mental health professionals) as the organization develops. It was this committee that felt Labrador was the most appropriate region to bring this training and support to first, because of the geographical challenges it presents, as well as the financial investment required.
"Not only are we pleased with Minister Kent’s commitment to the start-up funding of this program, we are also very pleased that he saw the value in bringing the first phase of this training to the region of Labrador. The level of isolation in Labrador, particularly on the coast, presents very significant challenges, and more importantly, is much more difficult for the first responders in that region to obtain Emotional and Psychological first aid services when it's needed. This is a great day for the provinces first responders, as we announce our commitment to bring this program to the province, and we are truly grateful that we've been given the support we needed, to bring this program to the region of Labrador."
- Duane Antle - President - NL Association of Fire Services
Emergency services personnel have become increasingly aware of the toll that the stress from exposure to traumatic events can cause in their quality of life. Factors that cause stress to one individual may not be stressful for another, but research has shown that there are only a small percentage of emergency service personnel unaffected by stress.
The crisis support team’s mission will be to provide emotional and psychological support, as well as educational services, for individuals and groups in the emergency services following traumatic events.
The CST-NL will make these services available to the Fire Services (paid or volunteer), Paramedic Services (Paid or Volunteer), Search & Rescue Personnel, Disaster Response Personnel, and others as requested.
"It is the mission of our association to enhance fire services in this province, and we are confident that bringing this program to Newfoundland & Labrador, and thereby providing valuable resources and education our first responders, will be critical to maintaining the mental health and needs of our emergency services personnel. This program will not only benefit those working or volunteering directly in the emergency services, but also for their families and spouses, who will also have access to education and resources to better understand the impact of the stressors involved in carrying out the work that our first responders do.
We have received a tremendous amount of support from the Salvation Army CISM team, as well as FES-NL and St. John’s Regional FD, who have already contributed a great deal of work in the planning phase of this program. We are excited to make this announcement today, and we look forward to the development and delivery of this program."
- Duane Antle - President - NL Association of Fire Services
Media contact:
Duane Antle
President
Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Fire Services
709-542-3494
duaneantle@live.ca
Currently there are very few resources for first responders to access, following a response to a traumatic event, such as major accidents, fatalities from fires, or other such situations that involve high stress environments. Many of the first responders in the province are left to find their own resources, and to rely on their own personal resilience. It will be the aim of the Crisis Support Team - Newfoundland & Labrador (CST-NL) to train selected first responders with Critical Incident Stress Management Techniques on a regional basis.
The plan for the development of this program, will be to recruit, train, and develop peer responders in 4 specific areas - St. John's, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook/Deer Lake, and Labrador. These peer response teams would then travel throughout their areas, providing assistance, at no cost to the first responders in need of emotional and psychological first aid services.
While this program will be provided at no cost to the first responders in need of such service, the development of the program and the training involved, is quite costly. As such, the Association of Fire Services has sought the support of the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador, and more specifically, Deputy Premier, and Minister responsible for Health & Community Services, Steve Kent, who has made a significant commitment to this program.
"From our very first conversations regarding this program with Minister Kent, it was quite evident that he has a passion and dedication for addressing the needs of Mental Health for our first responders in this province, and he has come through in a big way. It his commitment to ensuring our first responders have the resources available to get help after such incidents, that is going to get this program off the ground. Today we are very pleased to announce, that Minister Kent has committed $25,000 toward the development, recruitment, and training of peer first responders in Labrador. Without this level of support from Minister Kent, launching this program would not be feasible."
- Trevor Rideout - Executive Director - NL Association of Fire Services
The CST-NL will be a subcommittee of the Association of Fire Services, with representation from Fire & Emergency Services NL, St. John's Regional Fire Department, the Salvation Army CISM group, and other members (such as mental health professionals) as the organization develops. It was this committee that felt Labrador was the most appropriate region to bring this training and support to first, because of the geographical challenges it presents, as well as the financial investment required.
"Not only are we pleased with Minister Kent’s commitment to the start-up funding of this program, we are also very pleased that he saw the value in bringing the first phase of this training to the region of Labrador. The level of isolation in Labrador, particularly on the coast, presents very significant challenges, and more importantly, is much more difficult for the first responders in that region to obtain Emotional and Psychological first aid services when it's needed. This is a great day for the provinces first responders, as we announce our commitment to bring this program to the province, and we are truly grateful that we've been given the support we needed, to bring this program to the region of Labrador."
- Duane Antle - President - NL Association of Fire Services
Emergency services personnel have become increasingly aware of the toll that the stress from exposure to traumatic events can cause in their quality of life. Factors that cause stress to one individual may not be stressful for another, but research has shown that there are only a small percentage of emergency service personnel unaffected by stress.
The crisis support team’s mission will be to provide emotional and psychological support, as well as educational services, for individuals and groups in the emergency services following traumatic events.
The CST-NL will make these services available to the Fire Services (paid or volunteer), Paramedic Services (Paid or Volunteer), Search & Rescue Personnel, Disaster Response Personnel, and others as requested.
"It is the mission of our association to enhance fire services in this province, and we are confident that bringing this program to Newfoundland & Labrador, and thereby providing valuable resources and education our first responders, will be critical to maintaining the mental health and needs of our emergency services personnel. This program will not only benefit those working or volunteering directly in the emergency services, but also for their families and spouses, who will also have access to education and resources to better understand the impact of the stressors involved in carrying out the work that our first responders do.
We have received a tremendous amount of support from the Salvation Army CISM team, as well as FES-NL and St. John’s Regional FD, who have already contributed a great deal of work in the planning phase of this program. We are excited to make this announcement today, and we look forward to the development and delivery of this program."
- Duane Antle - President - NL Association of Fire Services
Media contact:
Duane Antle
President
Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Fire Services
709-542-3494
duaneantle@live.ca
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