$450,000 donation expanding CMHA first responder mental health program to B.C. and Alberta

July 24, 2024, Alberta & British Columbia — The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) received a $450,000 donation from West Fraser Timber Co. to bolster their Resilient Minds program and enhance mental health support in rural communities.

Resilient Minds is a trauma and evidence-informed, peer-led psychological health awareness training program designed by and for first responders across Canada.

The program was founded in 2016 as a partnership between Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services and the CMHA in response to the experiences of fire fighters and stress-related injuries.

This investment will support the expansion of Resilient Minds training in British Columbia and Alberta, including in more rural communities, and allow the CMHA to enhance its training and courses tailored specifically for 1,200 firefighters including volunteers, Indigenous emergency first responders and wildfire responders, the association reported in a media statement.

“The Resilient Minds course has proven to be an invaluable resource for firefighters facing mental health challenges,” said Roger Hollander, regional fire chief of Cariboo Regional District, in a press release.

“Through this program, participants have gained essential skills and strategies to navigate difficult situations, manage stress, and build resilience in their daily lives,” he said.