Depression & mental illness
Being on the front line, going out on tough calls, dealing with difficult, life-and-death situations—all of it can take a toll on first responders. Little wonder why mental health challenges are more common among our profession than many people realize.
The first step to getting the care you need is understanding what you’re going through. The self-assessment and self-care tools and resources below are a great place to start.
Get started nowIf you're struggling with depression, anxiety or another mental health or substance use condition, the last thing you need is to be overwhelmed when you're looking for help. That's where MindHealthBC comes in. This website makes it easy for you to get the information and resources you need to feeling better.
Visit
MindHealthBC to get started.
A self-care manual for staff who may be experiencing depression or low mood. This workbook allows individuals to work through activities and scenarios, learning strategies for managing low mood and depression. It focuses on three antidepressant skills: solving problems effectively, realistic thinking, and reactivating your life.
Give yourself a mental health check-up with this
confidential, anonymous online self-assessment tool. Using this tool, individuals can periodically "check up" on their mental health to help identify symptoms of depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder as a way of seeking support early on.
This assessment is provided by the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario for all members of the public. There is no cost to use it and reassessments can taken as needed.
Get started now
The Health Promotion Video Library provides a curated list of short, informative health and wellness videos, available 24/7 from any computer, tablet or smartphone.
Access the
Mental Health section of the library for videos on depression and anxiety.
