MENTAL HEALTH

Mental Health & Wellness Resources for Fire and Emergency Services

Purpose: 

Provide firefighters, Indigenous Fire Departments, and emergency services personnel and First Responders (including Police and EMS) with proven, Emergency and Fire Service specific mental health resources. 

This page is proactive. It supports training, prevention, and readiness, and also provides rapid access to confidential help.

Cultural-safety note: Include one sentence recognizing Indigenous wellness, 

“For Indigenous Fire Departments, MAP partners may include Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and land-based healing programs in alignment with community wellness traditions.” 

Get help now

• 9-8-8 Canada Suicide Crisis Helpline. Call or text 9-8-8 any time. Support in English and French, 24/7/365. 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline

• Boots On The Ground. Anonymous, Ontario-based peer support helpline for first responders. 24/7. Phone: 1-833-677-2668. Boots on the Ground

• Government of Ontario mental health resources for first responders and public safety personnel. Directory of programs and supports for members and families. Ontario
  
  

Core training and programs used in the fire service

• IAFF Behavioral Health Awareness and Peer Support Training
  Two-hour online awareness course for all members, followed by the gold-standard two-day Peer Support Training. Options to host or find a class. IAFF

• Stress First Aid (SFA) for Fire and EMS
  Evidence-informed model designed for firefighters and EMS. Practical “Seven C’s” actions before, during, and after difficult calls. Free awareness modules and implementation resources. Fire Hero Learning Network

• CMHA Resilient Minds
  Peer-led resilience and stigma-reduction training developed with firefighters. Expanding in Ontario with OAFC partners, including Indigenous first responder cohorts and Train-the-Trainer. CMHA Ontario Resilient Minds

• PSPNET by CIPSRT
  Free, confidential internet-delivered CBT tailored to public safety personnel and spouses. Self-guided nationwide, therapist-guided available in regions including Ontario. CIPSRT

• Wounded Warriors Canada – First Responder Assist
  Clinical programs for prevention, crisis support, individual and couples treatment, and clinician training, in partnership with Ontario Shores. Virtual and in-person access. Wounded Warriors Canada

• First Responder Center for Excellence Behavioral Health Hub
  Research summaries, implementation toolkits, and screening guidance for chiefs, MAP leads, and wellness coordinators. First Responder Center

• Philosopher & Warrior
  Using the Martial Arts as a vehicle for Personal Development. Originally founded for First Responders with a specialist Mental Health & Resilience component: The Way of Harmony PW | Philosopher & Warrior: The Resilience & Balance Handbook

Standards and guidance we follow

• NFPA 1500 Occupational Safety and Health Program
  Requires a behavioral health component in the department safety program. Use to anchor policy and program requirements. NFPA 1500

• NFPA 1582 Occupational Medical Program
  Current edition calls for annual behavioral health screening with validated tools, and provides physician guidance for fitness for duty and accommodations. NFPA 1582

• NFFF Behavioral Health Management resources and Life Safety Initiative 13
  Practical guidance to build and sustain a full behavioral health program for fire departments. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

Wellness-fitness, sleep, and fatigue

• Wellness-Fitness Initiative (IAFF and IAFC)
  Comprehensive model that integrates medical, fitness, and behavioral health. Use for weekly on-duty movement sessions, annual medicals, and MAP integration. IAFC

• Sleep and fatigue resources for shift work
  Use FRCE behavioral health materials and validated screening to implement bunkroom standards, strategic napping, and fatigue risk management. First Responder Center
  
  

For families and support networks

• Ontario resources for first responders and families
  Central provincial page with programs and services. Ontario | Mental-health-resources-first-responders-and-public-safety-personnel

• CIPSRT national hub
  Evidence-based tools, crisis pathways, and PSPNET details. CIPSRT
  
  

How to use this page inside your MAP 

(MAP = Member Assistance Program)

1. Post the three “Get help now” options at the top of every MAP page and in station common areas. 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline

2. Train all members in one resilience program and one peer support program. SFA pairs well with IAFF Peer Support or CMHA Resilient Minds. Fire Hero Learning Network

3. Adopt NFPA 1500 and NFPA 1582 language in policy, and schedule annual behavioral health screening. NFPA 1500

4. Build clinician partnerships using Wounded Warriors Canada and Ontario Shores where available. Wounded Warriors Canada+1

5. Add PSPNET to every referral script to ensure equitable access, including for remote or volunteer members. CIPSRT

6. Track participation and outcomes privately, and report anonymized summaries annually.
   
   

Acknowledgements and partners

• Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs; 

• Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario; 

• CIPSRT; 

• Wounded Warriors Canada; 

• Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences; 

• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation; 

• IAFF; 

• IAFC; 

• First Responder Center for Excellence.

• Philosopher & Warrior

References (APA style)

• Canadian Mental Health Association. (2024, July 25). CMHA Ontario expands Resilient Minds program to firefighters in 2024. CMHA Ontario

• Canadian Mental Health Association. (n.d.). 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline. CAMH

• CIPSRT. (n.d.). Online therapy for PSP (PSPNET). CIPSRT

• CIPSRT. (2023, May 9). PSPNET is now available in Ontario. CIPSRT

• First Responder Center for Excellence. (2023). Behavioral health screening in NFPA 1582: Report. First Responder Center

• First Responder Center for Excellence. (n.d.). Behavioral health resource hub. First Responder Center

• Government of Ontario. (2022, August 25). Mental health resources for first responders and public safety personnel. Ontario | Mental Health First Responders

• IAFF. (n.d.). Behavioral Health Awareness [online course]. IAFF

• IAFF. (n.d.). Peer Support Training [program overview; host or find a training]. IAFF | Peer Support

• IAFC. (2019, July 9). Guide to NFPA 1582 [Position paper]. IAFC NFPA 1582

• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. (n.d.). Stress First Aid for fire and EMS personnel [training program]. Fire Hero Learning Network

• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. (n.d.). Stress First Aid for firefighters and emergency services personnel [overview]. Everyone Goes Home

• NFPA. (n.d.). NFPA 1500: Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program. NFPA 1500

• NFPA. (n.d.). NFPA 1582: Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments. NFPA 1582

• Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. (2020, May 25). Wounded Warriors Canada and Ontario Shores launch new service to support mental health needs of first responders. Ontario Shores | Wounded Warriors

• Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. (n.d.). First Responder Assist. Ontario Shores | First Responder Assist

• PSPNET. (n.d.). For First Responders: ICBT overview. PSPNet

• Suicide Crisis Helpline. (n.d.). Get help: What to expect when you call or text 9-8-8. 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline

• Wounded Warriors Canada. (n.d.). First Responder Assist. Wounded Warriors Canada

• Boots On The Ground. (n.d.). Peer support for first responders [24/7 helpline]. Boots on the Ground

• Resilient Minds Ontario. (n.d.). Program home; Designed for firefighters; Get started. Resilient Minds 

• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. (n.d.). Firefighter mental health and well-being [resource hub]. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

Footer note: 

This MAP page is informational and does not replace clinical care. 

In an emergency or if you are at imminent risk, call or text 9-8-8. 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline