Canadian IAFF members recognized as champions of mental health

A leading organization that supports first responder mental health research and initiatives in Canada has recognized three IAFF members as champions of mental health.

Winnipeg, MB Local 867 member Laura Duncan; Surrey, BC Local 1271 member Matt Johnston; and Saskatoon, SK Local 80 member Joel McNair were among 20 individuals who were honoured recently by the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT).

Nominations for the honour are accepted from a wide cross-section of public safety personnel, including fire fighters, paramedics, police, border agents, corrections workers and emergency communicators. The honour is based on criteria including individual nominees’ impact on the mental health of their organization and community, the number of people they have impacted, and their commitment to decreasing mental health stigma.

CIPSRT notes on their website, “In public safety organizations across the country, amazing people are working to better the mental health of their peers. Increased understanding and reduced stigma improves the overall wellness of communities. CIPSRT finds inspiration in these efforts, and aims to honour those who are leading the way.”

Laura Duncan – Winnipeg, MB Local 867

Laura Duncan, a 27-year fire fighter and captain with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, serves on the Peer Support Team and previously spent five years as the team coordinator. She also advocates for her peers through her role on the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg Mental Health Committee.

Duncan has taught both the Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) and Resilient Minds programs, contributed to curriculum development for corrections, and partnered with retired police psychologist Dr. Bill Davis on research into how the brain processes trauma, work that led to the creation of a unique support platform for Winnipeg Local 867 members.

Duncan said she was humbled to be among those recognized by CIPSRT for their work in mental health, adding that she’s always been an empathetic person and her interest in the field came about naturally. After the tragic line-of-duty deaths of Winnipeg fire fighters Harold Lessard and Thomas Nichols in 2007, her captain recommended she join the Peer Support Team. After several years on the team, she became Team Coordinator.

Earlier this year, Duncan spoke at the Manitoba Legislature in favour of Bill 29, groundbreaking legislation that would require employers to prevent and treat job-related psychological injury and illness.

“I just love being able to connect people to resources and to help people normalize feelings,” she said, adding she is grateful to Local 867 under President Nick Kasper for prioritizing mental health awareness. “I feel like we are doing a great job in our Local to bring down the stigma, to start chopping it down. And we’re going to keep moving the boulder forward.”

Matt Johnston – Surrey, BC Local 1271

When he became a fire fighter in 2012, Surrey, BC Local 1271 member Matt Johnston was already aware of the importance of mental health through his work as a registered clinical counselor.

When he lost two fire fighter colleagues to suicide in 2015, it sparked a strong desire to make a difference and to improve mental health resources available to those in the profession.

“Unfortunately, it was tragedy that blended my two worlds together,” Johnston said.

Shortly after, Johnston co-founded First Responder Health, a company that trains psychologists and other healthcare professionals to effectively support fire fighters and other emergency responders. The company maintains a list of “occupationally aware clinicians” that first responders can access and connects first responders with psychologists through a telemedicine platform.

Since 2017, First Responder Health has trained over 500 healthcare providers to better treat first responders, and in partnership with the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association, has delivered occupational awareness resiliency training to more than 10,000 fire fighters.  Fire fighter associations and departments in other provinces are currently looking at the resiliency training as a model to adopt in their jurisdictions.

First Responder Health now works closely with Wounded Warriors Canada, a large national organization that supports mental health initiatives for armed forces personnel and first responders.

“My goal is to help people thrive, and not just survive, the daily grind of life,” Johnston said, adding being named a 2024 CIPSRT Champion of Mental Health was a crowning moment in his career.

“My ultimate endgame is to reduce the number of psychological crises not only in B.C. but across Canada.”

Joel McNair – Saskatoon, SK Local 80

Joel McNair, a Saskatoon, Sask., fire fighter and Local 80 Executive Board member, was diagnosed with PTSD and alcohol use disorder in 2015. He sought treatment, including an inpatient program, and today uses his lived experience to help other fire fighters.

McNair, 51, is a Local 80 Peer Support Team member and currently sits on the board of the city’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). He also co-chairs the First Responder Mental Health Committee for the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board.

He said he knew he needed help when he found himself pacing the firehall at night, overwhelmed with anxiety and so focused on avoiding panic attacks that he couldn’t remember whether he’d had run a red light on the way home. Self-medicating with alcohol had stopped working– though that didn’t stop him from trying.

“It got to the point where I just couldn’t get to work, and that was my personal rock bottom. I wasn’t safe for me, my community or the crew.”

McNair takes prides in being open about the challenges he’s overcome and is always willing to share his experience to encourage others to seek professional help.

He credits Johnston, the Surrey member, with urging him to undertake an advocacy role after hearing him speak. In several sessions with other fire fighters, McNair openly shared his story, and his wife also spoke about her experience as a spouse.

“Then it just kind of morphed into a purpose for me, and now I do a number of things for first responder health not just in the Local, but in the province.”

McNair says he plans study to psychology in the fall so that he can keep the work going when he retires from firefighting.

“When I retire, I want to dedicate all my time to first responder mental health and making sure these great, young fire fighter/paramedics are healthy, and they have a healthy and happy 30-year career,” McNair says. “That’s my goal.”

General President Edward Kelly commended the trio for their commitment to mental health in the fire service.

“Laura, Matt, and Joel have stepped up, using their skills and personal experiences to make a difference for fire fighters and paramedics across Canada,” he said. “Not only are they helping improve behavioural health practices in the fire service; they’re saving lives.

“The IAFF is proud to see them recognized for their outstanding efforts.”