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Getting mental health support to Richmond’s retired firefighters

Following the suicide of a well-liked retired Richmond Fire-Rescue captain last year , there were calls by families and other retirees for better connections to mental health supports.
Firefighter statue
Familiar face? This statue was modelled after a Richmond Fire-Rescue firefighter, but Fire Chief Tim Wilkinson won't say who. Photo: Richmond News/Megan Devlin

Following the suicide of a well-liked retired Richmond Fire-Rescue captain last year, there were calls by families and other retirees for better connections to mental health supports.

Months later, there are new efforts in the works to reach out to Richmond’s retired firefighters, including PTSD information sessions, talks by mental health professionals and peer-organized coffee groups.

This winter, Local IAFF 1286, Richmond’s firefighter union, held a meeting for retired firefighters explaining signs and symptoms of PTSD, and resources available.

The union acted quickly to reach out to retirees, president Cory Parker said, because they could recognize an “immediate need.”

“It’s important to not forget them when they walk out the door,” he said. “They’re still part of the family.”

In attendance was clinical counsellor Gemma Isaac, who specializes in treating first responders in her private practice.

 “I just had a little conversation regarding the neurobiology of trauma,” she said. “And helping them understand that it's an absolute normal reaction to an abnormal situation.”

Isaac invited retirees to come see her in clinic for a pro-bono assessment, and was pleased some took her up on the offer.

While some retired firefighters were ready to seek professional help, that’s not the case for all. For a long time, the profession was marked by a macho, “suck it up buttercup” attitude, retired Richmond firefighter Leo van den Boogaard said.

Leo van den Boogaard
Leo van den Boogaard. Photo: Megan Devlin / Richmond News

Van den Boogaard spoke to the Richmond News in December about his work-related PTSD.

He wants to move away from stigma surrounding mental illness, and show that PTSD as legitimate of a workplace injury as a broken leg.

“What,” he said. “You’re telling me I’m a weakling because I had a brain injury from my job?”  

He was diagnosed with PTSD in his 50s, and said it was a struggle getting WorkSafeBC to recognize the disorder as a workplace injury. 

He’s started a grassroots coffee group for retired first responders, with the goal of supporting them to learn more about mental health, and ask for help if they need it. He’s targeting the curious retiree, who may know something is wrong but not know what to do.

For the first meeting, in January, he booked a room at his karate studio in Langley. He was floored when more than 30 people showed up.

 “The need is huge,” he said.

In September, they’re planning a presentation on PTSD for retired Lower Mainland first responders. Once curious retirees get in the room, Van den Boogaard says they’ll be able to provide them with direction to seek further support.  

“I don’t want another (retiree dying by suicide),” van den Boogaard said. “We want to take the stigma away.”