NDP, Tories agree to work on mental health supports in wake of firefighter’s death

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This article was published 16/04/2024 (564 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There was rare show of unity during question period Tuesday when MLAs on both sides of the house agreed more needs to be done to support first responders following the apparent suicide of a Winnipeg firefighter.

Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said he’d be “happy” to work with Progressive Conservative justice critic and former Brandon police chief Wayne Balcaen to expand peer support groups for first responders.

The MLA for Brandon West asked the NDP government to invest in more programs like Project Resilience 911, a Westman initiative that allows first responders, front-line and military personnel to share resources, funding and training in the areas of personal trauma and mental health. It also seeks to reduce the stigma of seeking help.

“This sounds like an important initiative,” said Wiebe, who agreed to work with Balcaen on it. “It’s an issue that’s near and dear to every member of the legislature.”

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service member Preston Heinbigner died April 9. Heinbigner’s family is scheduled to be at the legislature when he is recognized by MLAs Monday. Firefighters will join them to advocate for better mental health supports for first responders.

“There are many other incidents … that have unfortunately emphasized the urgent need for increased supports for the mental health and wellness for our first responder community,” said Balcaen, who has experienced such incidents first hand.

He told MLAs about the suicide death of a friend and classmate from the police academy months after they graduated in 1990, and the “significant toll” stress and exposure to trauma can have on a first responder’s physical and mental health.

The former police officer said in an interview he now recognizes signs of having experienced post-traumatic stress from the first homicide he responded to.

“It was the time of ‘man up’ and ‘you don’t talk about those things,’” he recalled. A first responder’s “debriefing” often involved getting together with colleagues, oftentimes with alcohol, “which isn’t the most healthy way to decompress on these sorts of situations.”

Mental health and well-being are talked about more today, Balcaen said.

Const. Amanda Conway, who did social work before joining the Brandon Police Service, started the peer-support group Project Resilience 911.

“She recognized that police and all first responders need some sort of peer support to destigmatize mental health,” Balcaen said.

“First responders have a much higher rate of suicide than the general public, as well as clinical diagnoses of anxiety and depression,” he said, noting many first responders still don’t like to talk about it or admit they suffer from mental health issues.

Project Resilience 911 hosts training sessions and runs a closed Facebook group for first responders only, Balcaen said.

“I will push for it as along as I can — I know the incredible importance these programs bring.”

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca