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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, 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 November and December 2021, thanks to funding from the Motorola Solutions Foundation, the CAFC was able to offer three Resilient Minds^TM train-the-trainer courses. Through those courses, a total of 35 members of the fire service successfully completed the course and are now able to offer the training across Canada. These individuals are now qualified to offer the cours and will be able to train over 200 firefighters just this year alone!

To help them and facilitate the training across the country, this year, the CAFC is going to run up to 15 virtual courses so that these trainees can achieve their certification, and so that we can increase the reach of mental health training across Canada. Additionally, some of the individuals are also in the process of offering courses in their own departments and surrounding areas.

Mental Health Awareness Training 2022

Over the months of May and June, 2022, CAFC will offer a series of virtual Resilient Minds courses. Each course will be taught by two trainers, have a maximum of 15 participants and span two days in four 2-hour blocks: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm ET & 2:00 to 4:00 pm ET both days.

Starting in mid-April, departments who are members of the CAFC will be able to register not only themselves, but members of their departments as well. Each course can have up to 15 participants and you will be able to register multiple members per class.

We look forward to the success of the program, and hope to be able to offer more train-the-trainer opportunities in the future, so that we can continue to decrease the gap in mental health training in the Canadian Fire Service.

If you have any questions about the program or the courses, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Manager of Membership and Special Projects, Ms. Anabel Therrien at atherrien@cafc.ca