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...

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 You’re still avoiding certain places, and your family says you’ve become increasingly withdrawn.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...