'We see a lot of gruesome stuff': 5K run helps first responder mental health initiatives
It’s a tough job, and not everyone can do it.
“As a paramedic, we can't control what we see and sometimes it affects us more than we would like to admit,” said Chris Williams, a paramedic with London-Middlesex EMS.
So the Marathons for Mental Health initiative was created. It was designed to put more exposure on medics, and tell them it is okay to feel uncomfortable.
“After a long day of work, or after calls, you see really gruesome stuff. We liked the idea of letting medics know that it's okay to ask for help and then getting the help when it's needed,” Williams said.
Running has proven to improve mental health, reduce symptoms of depression, and increase stress resilience.
As part of the goal to look after the wellbeing of first responders, the first annual Marathons for Mental Health 5k run was created.
It sold out in three days.
Runners Avery Walton (left) and Meghan Grevers were among the 50 participants in the first annual Marathons for Mental Health 5k run April 13, 2024, at Gibbons Park in London, Ont. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)
“We've raised over $4,000 to donate to first responder mental health initiatives across the country,” said Matt Pusateri, a paramedic with London-Middlesex Ems and the run organizer. “All of our funds go towards I’VEGOTYOURBACK911, who was graciously able to show up today and support us.”
The I’VEGOTYOURBACK911 campaign, founded in 2014, is now in its 10th year. They draw awareness to the rise of mental health issues within the first responder community.
“The money raised today will go into our service dog program,” said Jill Foster, the campaign co-founder. “We've been running a service dog program for the last three years, where we fully fund a service dog for a first responder who's experiencing PTSD. We pay for the cost of the dog and then two years of training through the Phoenix Canine Initiative.”
Foster said a service dog costs between $20,000 to $22,000 and the money raised from the run will go directly into that program.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince William and Kate release photo of daughter Charlotte to mark ninth birthday
Prince William and his wife Kate released a picture of their daughter Charlotte to mark the princess's ninth birthday on Thursday.
This Canadian restaurant just lowered its prices. Here's how it did it
A Canadian restaurant lowered its prices this week, and though news of price tags dropping rather than climbing sounds unusual, the business strategy in this case is not, according to experts in the field.
Concerns about Plexiglas prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall Plexiglas barriers.
Facial reconstruction reveals what a 40-something Neanderthal woman may have looked like
Scientists studying a Neanderthal woman's remains have painstakingly pieced together her skull from 200 bone fragments to understand what she may have looked like.
Weight-loss drug Wegovy available in Canada starting May 6
The makers of Ozempic say their weight-loss drug Wegovy will be available to patients in Canada starting Monday.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Goring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Ontario man loses $1,500 applying for Nexus cards on social media
The trusted traveller program between Canada and the United States is extremely popular and almost two million Canadians have a Nexus card.
Companies letting customers opt out of Mother's Day ads
In an effort to balance the profitability of Mother's Day with the pain it causes some people, some brands are offering customers the choice to opt out of Mother's Day email advertising.
A mother's hopes to free her son from a Syrian prison is revitalized by a new human rights report
Just days before the seventh anniversary of the day Jack Letts was thrown in prison with thousands of suspected ISIS fighters, his mother delivered a small stack of envelopes to the headquarters of Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa.