Learning Resources

Protective Factors for Veterans and First Responders Mental Health | Fire Team K9 Sleep is an essential part of physical and psychological health. For veterans and first responders, shift work, irregular schedules, operational demands, and exposure to stressful events can interfere with sleep and recovery. For people experiencing PTSD, nightmares, hyperarousal, and difficulty settling at...

Protective Factors for Veterans and First Responders | Fire Team K9 For veterans and first responders, connection often develops through shared experiences. Working alongside people who understand the demands of service can create relationships built on trust, familiarity, and mutual responsibility. But meaningful connection matters outside operational environments too. Social support is one of the...

A police officer may know that their department has an employee assistance program, understand that counselling is available, and still have little interest in approaching the service. There are many reasons for that. Previous experiences, concerns about confidentiality, workplace culture, and uncertainty about the people delivering support can all influence whether someone chooses to participate....

Protective Factors for Veterans and First Responder Mental Health| Fire Team K9 Military service and first responder careers can shape far more than someone’s working life. They influence routines, friendships, values, responsibilities, and how people understand themselves. For many, service becomes a central part of personal identity. That sense of identity can be meaningful and...

You’ve been attending therapy for several weeks. You like your therapist, feel comfortable during appointments, and usually leave feeling that the conversation was worthwhile. But the nightmares haven’t changed. You’re still avoiding certain places, and your family says you’ve become increasingly withdrawn. At what point should you expect something to change? It’s a reasonable question...

In September 2026, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst welcomed a new member to its behavioural health department. Weasley, a two-year-old Labrador and Golden Retriever cross, joined the hospital through a partnership with Canine Companions. His assignment is to work alongside mental health professionals supporting patients in adult, adolescent, and forensic inpatient psychiatric services. The hospital has...

Police work rarely follows a predictable schedule. Officers and civilian staff move between competing responsibilities, difficult conversations, administrative demands, and situations that require sustained attention. Finding time to step away can be challenging, even when a break would be beneficial. Researchers at the University of British Columbia wanted to know whether a brief visit with...

An organization can offer mental health resources and still have employees who struggle to access them. Sometimes the difficulty is practical. Shift schedules, unpredictable calls, and competing responsibilities make it difficult to attend appointments or participate in programs. Other barriers involve concerns about privacy, professional reputation, or uncertainty about what accessing support might mean. Researchers...

Protective Factors for Veterans and First Responders | Fire Team K9 Physical activity plays an important role in maintaining physical and psychological health. For veterans and first responders, regular movement can provide opportunities to manage stress, maintain fitness, and participate in activities outside occupational responsibilities. Research also suggests that exercise may benefit people already experiencing...

Starting a workplace wellness program is one challenge. Keeping it useful and accessible over time is another. New initiatives often generate enthusiasm, particularly when they introduce something employees have not experienced before. But continued participation requires an organization to consider how the program fits into everyday operations. The University of British Columbia’s B.A.R.K. partnership with...

If you’ve encountered a dog visiting a hospital, school, or community event, you’ve probably heard it described as a therapy dog. These dogs and their handlers provide valuable opportunities for comfort, connection, and positive interaction. Facility Dogs are sometimes mistaken for therapy dogs because they may work in many of the same environments. You might...

When we think about stress in policing, critical incidents are often the first thing that comes to mind. But the demands of police work extend well beyond emergency responses. Administrative responsibilities, organizational pressures, workplace relationships, and the ongoing demands of the job can all contribute to stress. Researchers at the University of British Columbia explored...

Protective Factors for Veterans and First Responders Mental Health| Fire Team K9 For many veterans and first responders, professional communities provide a strong sense of belonging. Shared responsibilities, experiences, and values can create relationships that remain meaningful long after a shift or deployment ends. However, belonging within an occupational community may not always translate into...

For some first responders, approaching a mental health professional can feel like a significant step. There may be uncertainty about what the conversation will involve, concerns about confidentiality, or questions about whether the professional understands the demands of their occupation. One potential application of facility dog programming is to create opportunities for employees to become...

Protective Factors for Veterans and First Responders | Fire Team K9 The human stress response is designed to help us recognize and respond to potential threats. In military and emergency service environments, the ability to respond quickly under pressure can be essential and useful. However, prolonged stress and repeated exposure to potentially traumatic events can...

Accessing mental health care is not always as simple as knowing that a service exists. For police officers and other first responders, unpredictable schedules, professional expectations, and concerns about confidentiality can complicate decisions about seeking support. Even organizations that provide mental health resources may find that employees are reluctant or unable to use them. Research...

Protective Factors for Veterans and First Responders Mental Health| Fire Team K9 Self-efficacy refers to a person’s belief in their ability to organize and carry out actions needed to manage particular situations. It develops through experience, learning, feedback, and opportunities to practise skills. For veterans and first responders, occupational experiences can involve situations where control...

Protective Factors for Veterans and First Responders Mental Health | Fire Team K9 Military and emergency service careers often provide a clear sense of purpose. The work involves responsibilities, shared objectives, and opportunities to contribute to something larger than oneself. When service ends or changes, that familiar sense of purpose may also change. Purpose can...

Protective Factors for Veterans and First Responders Mental Health | Fire Team K9 Psychological flexibility involves responding to changing circumstances while remaining connected to personal values and meaningful goals. It includes the ability to notice difficult thoughts and emotions without allowing them to determine every action. In demanding occupations, established procedures and predictable responses can...