NPF First Responder Mental Health program receives donation from Nelson couple
By Nelson Daily Staff
The Nelson Police Foundation continues to spread its wings through the community, fundraising to support programs not typically part of the annual police operational budget said Nelson Police Chief Paul Burkart in a media release.
The NPF raises funds for programs like the school DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), the Heritage Police Car and Emergency Services Camp, and in partnership with City of Nelson Public Works, purchase of speed reader boards seen around town in our school and construction zones, and other high risk locations.
Burkart said the Foundation has also provided funding for training our police officers in advanced tactical emergency care, as well as funding for advanced training for the department’s restorative justice program volunteers.
But when the Foundation was looking for a new project, Burkart suggested supporting a mental health program, not only for our own active police members and staff, but also other first responders.
“I was thrilled with the response we received from the Foundation Directors,” said Burkart. “They saw it as such an important issue.”
“You only need to watch the news to find a story about first responder mental health,” he added. “Whether it is the story of thirteen suicides in the Ontario Provincial Police since 2012, the statistic showing paramedic suicide rates five times those of the average citizen, or a more recent story about how 25% of Abbotsford firefighters are presently out on stress leave, the numbers are truly staggering.”
To kick-start this latest campaign, the Foundation held a fundraising event at Finley’s Bar and Grill and had a tremendous turnout. And what was more impressive than the number of people that came, was the variety of people and groups that attended.
“I spoke to a lot of people that night, and the support I felt was tremendous,” Burkart said of the fundraiser evening.
“We had teachers, politicians, church and other community groups, city staff and managers, nurses, doctors, and of course, active and retired members of the various first responders and their families.”
Burkart said the evening also said the start of some much needed conversation.
“I also spoke with a lot of people in the following days about mental health,” Burkart explained. “It was not only first responders, but also members from the military, search and rescue, nurses and doctors that confirmed what we were already starting to see – that stress and PTSD has affected many of them and their co-workers.“
Burkart continued to meet with others that had heard the Foundation’s efforts.
However, the Foundation was overwhelmed when a Nelson couple asked to meet with the Police Chief.
“I had not formally met the Taylors before, but they came to the office to speak with me about a donation for the Foundation,” Burkart said of Jennifer and Ron Taylor.
“It was very apparent that the Taylors had done their research, not only about the issue of first responder mental health, but they were obviously very well-versed with our Foundation, as well as the Osprey Foundation, to which the Police Foundation belongs.”
The Taylors said that they wanted to make a donation to the Foundation specifically for the issue of first responder mental health. And although they did not have any explicit ideas about how the mental health funding should be spent – they were happy to leave that up to the Foundation directors – they were very specific about one thing – that the funding be used right away.
“Jennifer and Ron were very aware of the issues relating to first responder mental health,” Burkart said.
“And Jennifer made it very clear that they did not want the funding to be placed in the Foundation’s perpetual fund, rather they wanted this funding to be used to put something in place as quickly as possible and to start addressing the issue. As a result, the Osprey Foundation worked their magic to ensure the funds were available immediately for the Police Foundation.”
Burkart said the donation will truly make a difference on our ability to address this issue.
“I was really overwhelmed by the generosity of the Taylors,” he said.
“Although we have received some very nice donations from other individuals and groups, including our own Nelson Professional Firefighters Association and individual citizens, the donation from the Taylors is a game changer. “
Burkart said this funding will allow the mental health committee not only to set up in-house training for current and retired staff of both Nelson Fire Rescue and Nelson Police Department, but the funding will also be used to hold a larger event in the fall.
“We will be looking to invite not only all active first responders in the West Kootenay area, but we will be inviting other community partners, including search and rescue, correctional services, sheriffs, and other frontline workers, who are often exposed to the same stressors that affect police, fire and ambulance staff,” he said.
The Nelson Police Foundation wants to ensure that this topic is on the forefront of all the frontline workers’ minds and that they are seeking the assistance that they may need. This donation from the Taylors will certainly allow the Foundation to do that.
Anyone interested in donating to the Nelson Police Foundation, or would like more information on the Foundation or future events, please contact the Nelson Police Department at 250-505-5653, visit them on the webpage or on Facebook page.
