New mental health guide for military, first responders developed in Kamloops

A new mental health guide, created at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, is now available for first responders and military personnel in Canada and the United Kingdom. Included in the guide is a list of 50 organizations spanning across 10 areas of support that may be of interest to military personnel or first responders in need. These areas include initiatives, charitable organizations, peer support networks, specialized treatment centres and innovative digital tools. "First responders and military personnel face unique mental health challenges due to the nature of their work," TRU faculty member Dr. Kondrashov said in a media release. "This guide brings together resources from two countries, offering a valuable tool for those seeking support and for policymakers looking to improve mental health services." Kondrashov, as well as research intern Sean Cahill, created the guide to assist in combating mental health problems revolving around first responders, military personnel, their families and caregivers to navigate this specialized area of mental health. The guide includes information on peer support, government led initiatives, online resources and apps, insights into occupational health services and training resources, as well as listings of research and advocacy organizations. "This project exemplifies the value of international collaboration and the importance of recognizing students' strengths in research," Kondrashov said. "By leveraging Sean's practical experience in the UK and our academic expertise, we've created a resource that has significant societal benefits." The resource guide is available for download here https://krasun.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/mhfrmp-resource-guide_final.pdf . To contact a reporter for this story, email Bailey Zimmer mailto:bzimmer@infonews.ca  or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .