Thursday October 9, 2014 – 11am
Posted Oct 9, 2014 03:38:48 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
11:00- Mental Health Experts: Police Need More Help From Canadian Government
Vince Savoia, Founder and Executive Director of the Tema Conter Memorial Trust
Some recent suicides among Canada’s police officers have mental health advocates redoubling calls for more aggressive government action and greater public sympathy for the emotional well-being of law enforcement professionals. Traumatic encounters on the job coupled with stressful working conditions and challenging cultures of silence leave police vulnerable to mental health stress, they said, arguing the issue is comparable in scope to the more high-profile challenges the country’s military community faces. The Tema Conter Memorial Trust, an organization that works to raise awareness of the mental health concerns faced by first responders, began logging police suicides in late April. In just over 5 months, the group said it recorded 12 instances where actively serving officers took their own lives. The group said each case was verified with individual police forces or other first responders before being formally recorded as a suicide. Tema Executive Director Vince Savoia said the numbers are comparable to a sharp spike in military suicides last year that had the Department of National Defence fielding harsh criticism from the opposition. In a three-month stretch from Nov 2013 to Feb 2014, the military recorded 10 confirmed suicides. Savoia said the comparable numbers are not altogether surprising considering the similar challenges faced by both soldiers and cops.
11:30- The Toronto 2015 Pan Am Torch Relay
Mandy Bujold, Local Boxer, Pan-Am Games participant
The excitement of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Torch Relay – and the largest international multi-sport Games ever held in Canada – is coming to Kitchener! Last week, the city was announced as a major celebration community that, together with more than 130 communities in all corners of Ontario, will take part in the 41-day cross-Canada relay. Later today, Pan Am boxer Mandy Bujold and PACHI the porcupine, the official mascot of the TORONTO 2015 Games, as they show how Kitchener residents can get involved as torchbearers when the flame comes to the city next spring.
Listen:
http://pmd.570news.com/podcasts/middayshow/Midday-Show_11-12_2014-10-09.mp3
