VAUGHAN, Ont. — Ontario Provincial Police have introduced a mental health strategy aimed at helping officers deal with their own mental health as well as those they deal with on the job.
OPP commissioner Vince Hawkes says by supporting the health of its officers, the force will be better able to perform its work in general and will be more cognizant of the complicated mental health issues of the communities it serves.
He says the force will support both active and retired officers as well as their families.
Hawkes says officers will receive training to understand illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.
He adds the force will increase the officers' peer support program, improve data collection to better understand mental health issues, and boost early referrals from police to communities' mental health services.
Hawkes says the strategy comes after important work done by retired officers to shine a light on the issue, and an ombudsman's report that detailed the force's problems addressing mental health issues.
