Originally posted: April 28, 2024 Optimal stress is considered good stress – it allows you to be in the “Zone.” R2MR does a good job illustrating optimal stress and performance: Under high stress or high arousal, your decision making is impacted. In policing, the effect of stress could lead to a misjudgment while driving, a […]
Employee Wellness Blog
Welcome to the VPD Members Wellness Blog: a place to read about and find resources for first responders. This blog has been published internally for the last four years and we are now sharing it with our retired members, as much of the information is also relevant to you.
There is no doubt your life of service and the stress from some of the traumatic events you were involved in have impacted your mental health and wellness. Some of it may have impacted your family, as well.
We hope this bog will help you gain personal insight into your own mental and physical wellness and access resources to help you navigate the ups and downs of life.
Help eliminate the stigma around mental health by talking about the impact of first responder stress with someone you trust.
If you have any questions or suggested topics, please email Constable Michele McKnight at michele.mcknight@vpd.ca.
CIPSRT Study Regarding Mental Health Programming for First Responders
Originally posted: March 27, 2024 I was watching a recorded webinar on the Canadian Institute for Public Safety and Research (CIPSRT) website about a Multi-Method Study of the Factors Associated with Mental Health Programming for First Responders.” That’s a mouthful. I thought I’d share what I learned, because the information reinforces that we are not […]
Things I Can Control
Originally posted: March 18, 2024 Dave sent this to me. It is a good reminder to all of us.
Ego Check – It Wasn’t About the Lanyard
Originally posted: February 27, 2024 I studied law and psychology to get a BA from Carleton University. Here’s a photo of the common room in my pod, complete with a “phoneboot.” ? I loved psychology — the theories and the science, but hated stats class. I learned about Freud’s famous psychoanalytic theory which states that […]
Has Policing Changed Me?
Originally posted: February 22, 2024 At the BCACP/CACP Leadership Conference last month, I heard OPP Commissioner, Thomas Carrique, speak about leadership. I was completely engaged; he is clearly an incredible leader with a very high emotional IQ. At the start of his presentation, he said that policing changes us. About six years into my career, […]