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Since 2017, the Fire Chiefs have been on the record with the need for mental health awareness training for every firefighter. CAFC itself has no preference as to which “brand” of awareness training is used if it has proven safe and effective for its intended purpose.  

As such, CAFC members have used the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Resilient Minds Program; the Canadian Institute of Public Safety Research and Treatment version of R2MR, and the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s, Working Mind Program. 

CAFC member departments choose which program suits their needs. CAFC’s goal is to facilitate delivery, scale and spread, recognizing that these programs have associated costs. Since many operate on a train the trainer model, we can share trainers across the country, expediting the number of departments and firefighters that have access.

In the past three years, thanks to the Motorola Solutions Foundation, Bell Let's Talk, and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) CAFC has been able to train 75 new training in Resilient Minds across Canada. These training have been actively training members of the fire service in person and virtually to help ensure that every firefighter and fire staff in Canada has access to mental health awareness training. So far the training of close to 500 firefighters has been confirmed to us.

Thanks to Census 2023, we now know that 80% of departments across Canada no longer experience barriers in the delivery or access to mental health awareness programs. The CAFC is going to continue to engage these trainers and will offer more free virtual Resilient Minds courses to help trainers stay current and to facilitate training across the country. Additionally, some of the individuals are also in the process of offering courses in their own departments and surrounding areas.

Additionally, this year, the CAFC will also focus on leadership mental health, retirement mental health, and fire family mental health. Stay tuned for updates. 

Free Mental Health Awareness Training 2025

The CAFC continues to offer more free virtual Resilient Minds courses. All Departments who are members of the CAFC can register not only themselves, but members of their departments as well. You will be able to register multiple members per class so long as there is space. Each course can take up to 15 participants and will span two days from 11am to 4pm ET both days, with breaks throughout the sessions. 

More courses will be added later in the year.