Presented by:

Steve Fraser, Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services

Development

Fire fighter

CISM Certified Instructor

Certified Traumatologist

CMHA Education team

Certified

Traumatologist

Clinicalcounsellors

Fire fighters

CMHA 12+ years

Community Educator

Master Trainer

CISM trained

Psychologist

Program objectives

• Skill-building focusing on:

• Psychological Trauma

• Psychological Distress and Disorder

• Workplace-Stress & Resiliency

• Increase awareness and build practices to recognize and repair psychological trauma

• Increase confidence and ability to respond promptly, safely and appropriately to self, co-workers and citizens

• Build psychological resilience for future stressors

“It’s very culturally-

specific. Great concept

and foresight. Very

progressive.”

Resilient Minds modules

MODULE 1

Psychological Trauma:

Recognizing and Understanding

(Self and Peers)

MODULE 2

Psychological Trauma:

Potential Risks and Strategies

(Responding to Peers)

MODULE 3

Psychological Distress

and Disorder

(Responding to Citizens)

MODULE 4

Managing Workplace Stress

and Building Resiliency

(Self and Peers)

On Duty Off Duty

ArgumentRoad

RageExtreme

Sports

Building Awareness

Responding to calls

Homeostasis Trend

Stress Limit

Str

ess

Le

ve

l o

f to

lera

nce

Building a Framework for Support

Self-help

Formal

Supports

Community

SupportsInformal

Supports

Neighbours

EFAP Program

DoctorChief

Friends

Pets

Family

Peer support Exercise & Nutrition

Coworkers

Leisure Activities

CISM

Activity Groups

Adapted from CMHA COMMUNITY RESOURCE BASE

Training Process

Train-the-trainer

(3 days)Resilient Minds

Master Trainer

Fire fighter

CMHA -Trained

Facilitator

CISM

Resilient Minds

Master Trainer

CMHA

Experienced

Mental Health

Educator

• Fire fighters

• Facilitation experience

• Interest in promoting

mental health

Fire Crew

Fire Crew

Fire Crew

• Flexible & sustainable peer

delivery

• Uses the simple and

intuitive ‘4R Action Toolkit’

• Trained as CMHA Resilient

Minds facilitators

• Ongoing CMHA support

• Access to Facilitator HUB

“Excellent course materials!”

Key findings from TTT modules

High ratings on

learning for content in

all four modules (rating

of ‘quite a bit’ or ‘a lot)

on most content.

100% recommend

that all firefighters

take the modules.

Trainers received high

ratings – ‘excellent’ or

‘very good’

Regions Trained

• Comox Fire

Rescue

• Oyster River Fire

Rescue

• Courtenay Fire

Department

• Campbell River

Fire Department

• Powell River Fire

Rescue

• Victoria Fire

Department

• Saanich Fire

Department

• Oak Bay Fire

Department

• Kamloops Fire

Rescue

• West Kelowna

Fire Rescue

• Kelowna Fire

Department

• Penticton Fire

Department

• Vancouver Fire and Rescue

• North Vancouver City Fire

Department

• West Vancouver Fire and

Rescue

• New Westminster Fire and

Rescue Services

• Port Moody Fire Department

• Surrey Fire Service

• Coquitlam Fire and Rescue

• Richmond Fire-Rescue

• Maple Ridge Fire Department

• Abbotsford Fire and Rescue

• District of North Vancouver Fire

& Rescue Services

• North Shore Search and Rescue

• Royal Canadian Marine Search

and Rescue

• Denman Island Fire Department

• Salt Spring Island Fire DepartmentPrince Edward

Island

VFRS Results

Arbor Educational & Clinical Consulting

Denise Buote, PhD, RCC, CE

Perceived Benefit

0

15

30

45

60

Somewhat beneficial Quite beneficial Very beneficial

Perceived Benefit of Workshop (n=110)

•12%

•38%

•50%

Responding to a colleague

0

7

14

21

28

35

Very true Quite true Somewhat true

I feel more prepared to respond to a colleague who is struggling with mental health issues? (n=67)

•22%

•42%

•35%

Responding to the public

0

7

14

21

28

35

Very true Quite true Somewhat true

I feel more prepared to respond to a member of the public who is struggling with mental health issues? (n=66)

•18%

•41% •41%

Module Findings

• 85% of course participants indicated high enjoyment as to the way the material was presented in the workshop, and 82% found the materials ‘very helpful’.

• 99% of course participants reported learning new knowledge about psychological trauma and/or mental health, with 81% of these individuals reporting learning ‘quite a bit’ or ‘a lot’.

• 94% intended to use the new knowledge and skills in their work and personal life.

• 92% of course participants were ‘quite likely or ‘very likely’ to recommend the course to other fire fighters.

Two to Four months after completing the Resilient Minds course, participants were invited to complete a follow-up survey.

Post course follow-up survey (2-4 months)

100% reported decrease in stressors

Stressors

Baseline Post-Resilient

Minds

Trend

Disruption of sleep (general) 3.71 3.25 Decrease in stressor

Disruption of sleep due work issues (e.g., shift work,

staying awake at night thinking about a run etc.)* 3.61 3.06 Decrease in stressor

Seeing the negative effects of stress on co-workers (e.g.,

illness, alcohol misuse, and burnout) 3.17 2.41 Decrease in stressor

Being exposed to anxious or overly demanding

coworkers or administrators 2.96 2.56 Decrease in stressor

Disruption of sleep due to personal issues (e.g., family

issues, relationship issues)* 2.94 2.59 Decrease in stressor

Thoughts about past runs that have been particularly

upsetting/disturbing 2.91 2.18 Decrease in stressor

Not eating a healthy diet 2.89 2.67 Decrease in stressor

Long commute* 2.88 2.11 Decrease in stressor

Working with a substandard co-employee on emergency

incidents or situations 2.73 2.49 Decrease in stressor

Feelings of isolation from family due to work demands

and stress 2.73 2.00 Decrease in stressor

Financial worries due to inadequate pay 2.68 2.30 Decrease in stressor

Concerns about serious personal

injury/disablement/death due to work 2.47 1.92 Decrease in stressor

Being concerned about not knowing enough about the

latest technology 2.33 2.21 Decrease in stressor

Being bothered by not being able to control or predict

events 2.29

1.97

Decrease in stressor

Dislike of routine paper work 2.26 1.95 Decrease in stressor

Conflicts with coworkers and team members 2.25 2.03 Decrease in stressor

Experiencing discrimination due to gender, ethnicity or

age 2.06 1.88 Decrease in stressor

Dealing better with stress

0 13 25 38 50

Yes

Sort of

No

Did Resilient Minds help you learn to better deal with stress?

• 65%

•30%

•5%

Survey respondents were asked how much they agree with the following statement: “As a result of the Resilient Minds training and resources, I feel better prepared to effectively recognize and respond to someone [member of the public] struggling with mental health problems.”

0

13

25

38

50

Very true Quite true Somewhat true Not true

Preparedness to Recognize and Respond to the Public (n=52)

17% 42% 41% 0%

Further to this, survey respondents were asked how much the agree with the statement: “As a result of the Resilient Minds training and resources, I feel better prepared to effectively recognize and respond to a colleague struggling with mental health problems.”

19% 44% 37% 0%

0

13

25

38

50

Very true Quite true Somewhat true Not true

Preparedness to Recognize and Respond to a Colleague (n=52)

Among those who indicated an increase in colleague support, comments included:

“People are talking/not afraid to discuss this issue. Fire hall officers ensure that crews are working out/allowed rehab time.”

“More people [members] are aware of mental health issues. More conversations around the kitchen table.”

“Positive morale around the halls with the return of sports, inclusive crew environment between all ranks.”

Using the Resilient Minds Material in Work and Personal Life

70% of survey respondents indicated that they have had a chance to use the information (information and skills) that they learned in Resilient Minds in their work life. A further 69% indicated that they have used the material in their personal life. Comments included:

“I think this course made me more aware of the mental health of my coworkers.”

“Breathing exercises when stressed.”

“Try to be more aware of negative/positive impacts individual days and build on solutions.”

“Mindfulness.”

“Paying more attention to what triggers me.”

“Make time for myself. Started kayaking.”

“I have a better understanding on what mental health problems look like. I feel more confident on how to help, and get the ball rolling.”

Program success, challenges and recommendations

Baseline survey participation: 54% of VFRS participated in the baseline survey, which provided a clear snapshot of current experiences

and challenges related to stressors as well as mental health and resilience training and education needs.

High acceptance of the ‘Resilient Minds’ course: Course participants gave the course high ratings both with respect to enjoying the

format and being likely to recommend it to others.

High learning and benefit from the ‘Resilient Minds’ course: Course participants reported learning a great deal about mental health and

resilience, both how they can use the knowledge and skills in their own lives and also to support others.

✦ Evaluation data collection: VFRS are asked to do many surveys on different topics. Fatigue related to survey completion may have

contributed to lower post-module and follow-up survey participation rates.

✦ Training time: Given the busy and unpredictable schedule of firefighters, having enough time to work in the fire halls to complete the

training was challenging.

• ‘Resilient Minds’ as part of new hire training: Embed ‘Resilient Minds’ into new firefighter training.

• ‘Resilient Minds’ full implementation: Ensure that all existing VFRS complete the four-module training and moving forward, schedule

refresher courses each year. • Ongoing monitoring plan: Implement a monitoring plan throughout VFRS to make informed decisions about prevention and promotion

supports and educational needs that would benefit members, and families. This could include brief check-ins with members as to topics

and supports that they see as promoting mental health.

To learn more about the program or to book a training,

Email: courses.vf@cmha.bc.ca

“Members that have

completed the training

continue to reference it

as some of the best

training they have

participated in during the

course of their careers.”

– Deputy Fire Chief Operations, Victoria Fire Department