Manitoba is increasing psychological support for first responders after a firefighter's suicide

The Manitoba government is hiring three new counselors to improve access to mental health support for first responders following the death of a Winnipeg firefighter by suicide this month.

Premier Wab Kinew said the province was still working on the details of the assistance, but firefighters, paramedics and police would each have an adviser tailored to their needs.

“This tragedy brings into great detail the challenges related to post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues that people face,” Mr. Kinew said during a tribute to the family of Preston Heinbigner at the Manitoba Parliament on Monday .

Mr. Heinbigner, father of his nearly two-year-old son Oslo, had a second child on the way at the time of his death on April 9. Family and friends have described him as a kind and genuine person with magnetic energy and a huge smile.

“April 9 should not be marked as a day of pain and sadness, but rather as a day that made everyone pause, a day that started a discussion and a day that brought about change,” his wife said Shayda Tashakor during the memorial service event last week.

Tom Bilous, president of the United Firefighters of Winnipeg Local 867, said Mr. Heinbigner's death deeply shocked Manitoba's firefighters and exposed deficiencies in the province's capacity to provide timely mental health care to first responders.

“Sometimes people cannot wait weeks or months to see a psychologist or psychiatrist. “We know that our members are usually in pretty bad shape when they make contact,” Mr. Bilous said in an interview on Tuesday.

He said it would at least be beneficial for firefighters to have a mandatory annual check-in with a psychologist to discuss any challenges they face and to assess whether they are struggling with mental illness.

Mr. Bilous said he wanted to continue discussions with the provincial government about improving support for first responders as a way to honor Mr. Heinbigner and others who have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues.

There are 986 firefighters with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and more than 10 per cent of union members have filed a mental injury claim with the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba, he said.

Data from the panel shows 70 post-traumatic stress disorder claims were accepted from 2018 to 2022, but that is only a portion of the total number of mental injury claims for police, firefighters and paramedics.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service established a behavioral health unit in 2021, consisting of a psychologist and a behavioral health nurse. In recent weeks they have hired a second nurse as more firefighters seek support after the loss of their colleague.

Mr. Bilous, a Winnipeg Fire Department captain with more than 31 years of experience, said, “The days of 'Suck it up Buttercup' are long behind us and members are much more helpful and committed to helping each other.”

He remembers how he reacted years ago when a child nearly drowned – an incident that occurred close to home because he had young children at the time.

A critical incident peer support team, made up of firefighters who received specialized trauma-informed training and are still on the job today, held a debriefing for everyone who responded to that near-drowning call, he said .

“It’s hard to get this out of your head and this is where we need to turn to mental health professionals,” Mr Bilous said. “Each event affects each member differently.”

Mr. Bilous said the silver lining to the loss of one of his members is that captains, lieutenants and officers are talking to their crews to talk about mental health and the importance of addressing fleeting remarks or jokes in the fire hall that can actually be a one Be a warning sign for someone who is having problems.

During Mr. Heinbigner's tribute in the Manitoba Parliament on Monday, former firefighter and NDP MLA David Pankratz spoke about his own experiences.

“The work we do exposes us to constant stress and trauma, and acknowledging that we are not well is the first step to healing. True resilience is found when we break the silence and create space to share the silent struggles within us.”