West Grey Police remain committed to mental health
The West Grey Police Service is striving to have an open dialogue when it comes to mental health issues. Each member has access to an Employee and Family Assistance Program which offers short term counselling, life coaching services, referrals, and online resources such as an e-service tool to assist with depression and anxiety that our members or their loved ones may be experiencing.
The West Grey Police Service is committed to yearly mental health training for all staff. In 2017, all members of the West Grey Police Service were trained in the Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR). R2MR is a mental health training program originally developed by the Department of National Defence and is aimed at:
- Improving short-term performance and long-term mental health outcomes.
- Reducing barriers to care and encouraging early access to care.
- Providing the tools and resources required to manage and support employees who may be experiencing a mental illness.
- Assisting supervisors in maintaining their own mental health as well as promoting positive mental health in their employees.
This week, the West Grey Police Service launched a new in service program which provides confidential therapy services. The contracted psychotherapist has been in private practice since 1993 and has made herself available to police staff, couples and their families. She has specializations in trauma, PTSD, and first responders and has been brought on to assist the West Grey Police Service with our occupational stress injuries and PTSD prevention plan.
Our team of officers have a far greater understanding of mental health issues and are much better equipped to recognize when they need help. The commitment to on-going training and new partnerships help make it easier for members to access resources for themselves and their families. It is evident that the conversations are changing and that significant progress has been made within our police service. Officers will continue to learn and be given any resources necessary to achieve the common goal of ending the stigma surrounding mental health.
Improving access to mental health services was important to the leadership of the service who recognized that police officers often work in a high stress environment and are exposed to traumatic events. It was imperative to make resources available so that our officers can go home to their families healthy, physically and mentally.
Media Inquiries:
Cst. Cory Trainor
Media Relations Officer
West Grey Police Service
519-369-3046
ctrainor@westgreyps.ca