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First responders to receive free resiliency training

Nanaimo’s Edgewood Health Network donates $17,000 for mental resiliency training for first responders
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Edgewood’s director of operations, Colleen Ward, left, and clinical director Elizabeth Loudon; Canadian Mental Health Association Mid Island board vice-chairwoman, Kim Swiss, and executive director, Jason Harrison are on hand as Edgewood presents a cheque for $17,113 to the Canadian Mental Health Association Mid Island. The funds will be used to provide first responders with resiliency training. (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo’s firefighters, B.C. Ambulance paramedics, police and other first responders will receive training against psychological trauma and workplace stress, thanks to a donation from Edgewood Health Network.

Edgewood is donating $17,113 to the Canadian Mental Health Association Mid Island branch to deliver the CMHA’s Resilient Minds course, a four-module prevention stress and psychological stress prevention program developed with the B.C. Firefighters Association to support first responders who are dealing with the additional stresses and workload created by the opioid crisis.

The money for the donation was raised through Edgewood’s Run for Recovery event held June 23 at Westwood Lake Park and is being presented at Edgewood on Wednesday (Aug. 30) on the eve of International Overdose Awareness Day, a global event held to raise awareness that overdose deaths are preventable.