What is an Anniversary Trigger?
On the anniversary of a traumatic event, some first responders can have an increase in distress, obsessive thoughts and feelings of helplessness, loneliness, along with overwhelming shame and/or guilt. Such reactions, can range from feeling mildly upset for a day or two to a more extreme reaction with more severe mental health or medical symptoms…
Read MoreAmerica Has Failed Police Officers, But These Warriors Will Never Fail America
Posted by Kirk Lawless | Apr 7, 2019 with permission Editor Note: This article was originally posted under the name Sgt. A. Merica to protect the identity of the author. After we received countless emails of support – and some of anger – he asked us to repost it. This time, under his name. Kirk…
Read MoreFundraising Endeavours: Shift the Stigma
On Saturday August 18, 2018, Kevin Guest, a retired member of the Toronto Police Service, sponsored and fundraised for our charitable organization, Badge of Life Canada / Insigne de vie Canada by hosting his own 8-hour walk, “Shift the Stigma”. Kevin walked for 8-hrs with support from his family and friends in support of his own mental…
Read MoreWhat Cops See
One of our directors at Badge of Life Canada / Insigne de vie Canada, Dr. Katy Kamkar, recently talked about the affect Operational Stress Injuries (OSI) have on our cops. She pointed out that it is especially true when a colleague is killed in the line of duty as what happened in Fredericton last week.…
Read MoreChaplains Corner: The Ride-along
Ride-along: The most vital part of a police chaplain’s ministry offering a window into the nature of police work. A law enforcement chaplain is a member of the clergy with a passionate interest for pastoral care in the challenging world of law enforcement. Such care is openly offered to all members of the service regardless…
Read More“I’m givin’ her everything she’s got, Captain..or are we?”
“I’m givin’ her everything she’s got, Captain!” (Star Trek, 2009, Montgomery Scott) Or are we? Somewhere in Canada, first responders respond to a scene finding a colleague who has died from suicide. Somewhere right now a police officer, 911 communicator, corrections officer, firefighter, paramedic, nurse, doctor, and other first responders will be dealing with their…
Read MoreDonations: Please consider making a monthly charitable donation
The last 10 months have been quite exciting for all involved with Badge of Life Canada / Insigne de vie Canada. With the assistance of licensed therapists, Chaplains and positive lived experience peers we have delivered more than 300 hours of life changing self-care, resiliency building and suicide prevention information to 100 first responders for free to…
Read MoreWho’s in your Tribe?
Find Your Tribe Badge of Life Canada / Insigne de vie Canada often talks about the term #FindYourTribe. Who’s in your Tribe? What does the term actually mean? Your Tribe can be anyone you are truly connected with, like your family, such as parents, siblings, your own children, spouse, partner, loved ones. Your Tribe…
Read MoreHave you thanked a First Responder today?
Perceptions: Perceptions can often become our reality. First Responders. Love them. Hate them. Totally indifferent about them. Overpaid taxpayer burden. Underpaid and overworked. Lazy. Donut eaters. Protectors. Hulking specimens. Over zealous tax collectors writing speeding tickets on our highways. “I wouldn’t do that job for a million dollars.” A Hero who just saved a family and…
Read MoreS.U.I.C.I.D.E…7 steps towards change.
First responders that die by suicide are generally high performing members of their organization. They are often prime examples of what the employer expects on a daily basis. They care extremely about their career and often put their life on hold to finish the job. Sometimes too much. But what about suicide ideation? Surely only…
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