First responders in B.C. will now have greater access to services and compensation to treat mental health and trauma, Labour Minister Harry Bains announced Wednesday.
Bains will introduce amendments to the Workers Compensation Act, that, if passed, will add post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental injuries to a list of 鈥減resumptive conditions鈥� no longer requiring workers to prove their disease or disorder is work-related.
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鈥淭hese are the people 鈥� who are the first at crash sites to save and treat victims, who put their lives on the line to battle raging house and building fires, are the first to respond to all kinds of horrific crimes,鈥� Bains said on the steps of the B.C. legislature.
Mental health injuries can be just as devastating as physical ones, he said, and this is especially true for first responders, sheriffs and correctional workers.
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Judy Darcy called the changes 鈥渓ong overdue.鈥�
Labour Minister announces province will provide better access to services and compensations for
鈥� Victoria News (@VictoriaNews)
Currently, two types of work-related mental disorders are recognized: a reaction to one or more traumatic events at work, and a reaction primarily caused by significant work-related stressors, such as bullying or harassment.
Workers have to prove their claim is valid by establishing that their injury was caused by their employment, in addition to being diagnosed by a psychiatrist or psychologist.
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Cameron Eby, provincial president of Ambulance Paramedics of B.C., called the announcement 鈥渁 great start鈥� adding that he hopes to see dispatchers and emergency call takers included in the new guidelines as well.
鈥淲e鈥檙e involved in transporting the patients so there鈥檚 a bit of a longer contact and more of an intimate contact with patients in their time of need, and that has a profound effect on the paramedics doing that work,鈥� he said.
Eby pointed out legislation like this helps break down the barriers and the stigma around PTSD and other mental health injuries.
The opioid crisis, he said, was likely a contributing factor in the province鈥檚 move to enhance support.
鈥淚鈥檝e heard from those paramedics that it鈥檚 taking a toll on them when they have to see the same patients over and over again,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭here鈥檚 an additional emotional attachment to those situations.鈥�
The proposed amendments will specifically apply to firefighters, police, paramedics, sheriffs, and correctional officers.
Several other provinces already have similar legislation in place, including Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan and the Yukon.
