First responders are always there when we need them. With incidents like the vehicle with three people inside that went into Little Pearl Lake on Friday, for instance, we don’t realize that their involvement can be severely traumatic to them. They are, after all, human.
Communications coordinator Marc Depatie says Timmins Police officers are trained for situations like that, and draw on their teamwork with other first responders to get through it. And the police service has mental health resources at the ready.
“We wholeheartedly encourage our first responders – our police officers – to be fully aware that these resources are at their disposal and it is in their best interest to take advantage of those services whenever they are feeling overwhelmed or affected in some way.”
Depatie notes that the days of “suck it up, this is what you signed on for” are over.
“Those expressions were used prominently in policing. Now, thankfully, they’re no longer in favour.”
“Sometimes getting right back to work has a benefit. Sometimes taking time to adjust and digest what has happened serves a purpose as well.”
