Through an independent, qualitative study of Blueprint’s Resiliency Program funded by Movember, first responders gave first-hand reviews of the program and their experiences.

With the permission of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (BCPFFA) and BC Police Association (BCPA), we share their feedback.

"The entire retreat was nothing short of miraculous...in the space of that hour, after three decades of no self-esteem, embarrassment, guilt, hopelessness, severe depression and severe PTSD, I was able to hold my head up and look into my brothers’ eyes."

"It took hope to show up to this program, and courage to fully participate, but the return on the investment of my hope and courage started on day one, and continued to grow each day. Connection is an amazing medicine for the wounded warrior....and I am a wounded warrior."

"The course was nothing short of remarkable. It’s hard to put into words the impact this program had on my well-being. It was raw and real. I found strength from my brothers and sisters, and have gained lifelong friends."

"For 27 years I’ve helped fix other people’s bad situations. The hardest thing for me to admit was that I was broken too. It took me 10 years to admit I needed help. I had great fear of the unknown leading up to this retreat but knew it had to be done. Living under such a dark cloud was exhausting for me and my family. This program is a big step in the right direction."

"Knowing there are other first responders out there feeling similar makes it easier to move forward and seek help. It was very nice to see younger fire fighters there too, getting the tools to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to our mental health. One can only predict that this next generation of first responders will certainly benefit from this."

"As first responders, we don’t have to be alone. There are many who feel this very same pain and I can see it in many faces. Being compassionate and caring of others and making no judgement has helped to heal my soul. I have learned that the bravest humans are the ones that can cry and show their emotions and still complete the task at hand. I was raised stoic and told to suppress my feelings. I know the damage that was caused. Thank you, BCPFFA, David, and Duncan."

"I found the program very beneficial. I was having problems and didn’t know where to turn. I was worried a one-on-one experience wouldn’t work for me. The group experience was great. Talking amongst your peers that understand how we are really helped me deal with my issues. This was a life changing program for me."

"Many stories were shared, many emotions brought to the surface, and many men finding out that you are truly not alone on this journey."

"This is a must-do for everyone at one point in their career, beginning or end. True strength is not the ability to know something is wrong but rather to act on it."

"Our group of guys was amazing, and the trust that was built in such a short time was nothing short of a miracle. It was an amazing feeling to be a part of so many people’s lives in such a vulnerable way. It was just as freeing to allow others into my life that way."

"I attended the course to learn more of how to recognize and help those suffering and quickly discovered that all of us could use a little help."

"The program was one of the best things that I could have done for myself and my family. I was unprepared for the amount of work that was required, but it was worth every bit of it! I gained tools and became aware of so many resources that make me feel so much more prepared for the remainder of my career. Instead of feeling a weight and concern for what’s to come I am excited and know I will be able to handle the challenges we face in a healthier way. I spent a great deal of time and energy just getting through the last little while, and this program gave me back a huge part of myself. Now I am able to identify my triggers and maneuver through challenging moments more quickly with less time wasted on things I can’t control. You guys changed the way I was seeing my world. Thank you!!"

"You are not alone—you are human with human reactions. This program made me feel so much more ready to continue providing by serving people in need. This program saved me from taking a wrong turn emotionally in life."

"I want others to get the same feeling of unloading the backpack.. This program changed the way I will think every day from here out."

"I realized that my journey to healing takes me through a narrow door. It’s only wide enough for me to pass through. I have to leave my baggage behind. I was able to do this during the sessions over the four days."

"This has been the most important training and healing I’ve ever completed during my firefighting career. Thank you. I’ll be a better person, father, and firefighter for participating in this program."

"I heard the stories of how it was life-changing, and I reserved judgement until I had gone through it. I have been through plenty of counselling and nothing compares to a trusted peer group."

"I truly can’t even explain how great my experience was quite yet, as I’m still digesting everything I learned. It was more than I ever could have imagined when I showed up there. I was a pilot flying blind in life and just trusted my best friend from Port Moody Fire and those who were running the program to be my co-pilots! This blind faith paid off at a time when anything would have helped. I was rewarded with a program I desperately needed at the exact time I needed it. They had a saying that there are no magic bullets to fix everything and I agree……but there is magic happening. We showed up as 8 individuals who knew nothing about one another and left after four days as a group with a bond that will last a lifetime. Blueprint, supported by the BCPFFA, is what every fire fighter needs at some point in their career. There were some dark days that are brighter now and some days when you lose a little hope but I have that hope back now! The First Responder Resiliency Program is absolutely incredible and I will be sharing it with everyone in Ontario moving forward! There are so many fire fighters who would benefit from it here as well. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!"

"This experience, without a doubt, saved my life!"

"The program most likely saved my life. If it had been available to me sooner, my personal life and career would have taken significantly different trajectories. I hope this program will continue to be available to members."

"I had a bad call that left me shaken for a year. I didn’t speak to anyone about it as I didn’t want to appear weak. For me this course was transformative. It gave me the opportunity to release emotions that I had been pushing down for months. I was able to come to terms with the trauma I had experienced from my work as a first responder. Without this program I wouldn’t been able to begin to heal."

"The instructors created such a safe atmosphere that everyone was able to share their stories without judgement, without embarrassment, and without fear. I’ve seen a lot of bad things, heard many disturbing and demoralizing stories involving some of the worst of humanity. I have realized that we all carry a heavy weight and that just being there to listen, to be heard and just talk with others who may have experienced far worse then ourselves is what matters most. That is what this program has taught me."

"Prior to participating in the program my stress and anxiety had reached unmanageable levels. Although I had already started the process of dealing with the stress, I did not feel like this was something I could share with anyone in the workplace. I learned that many of the people around me at work are or have been experiencing similar issues, and the way that stress and anxiety affects the body is similar for many of us. The process helped me understand the commonality we all share, and how this job affects us similarly. I felt completely heard, understood and supported throughout this program. I was also reminded that we are more resilient than we sometimes think we are - this mindset has been a huge help for me as I continue to work in the operational setting. I also learned how to listen and support my colleagues better. I think I carry this with me more now than ever, and it has made me a better teammate, friend, and family member. "

"I have been in policing for 23 years and I just want to say what an incredible journey over the 4 days. I learned a tremendous amount about myself and where I am at, the reasons why I have suffered such trauma and how to now cope and overcome these hurdles. I would highly recommend this to anyone in the department."

"Over the years I have been involved in a variety of stressful situations which have taken their toll on my mental well being as a police officer on the job as well as in my personal life. When this program was offered to me, I was a little apprehensive to say the least. When I first arrived, I was greeted by a former program participant which put me at ease. I was able to ask a few questions which provided me with some comfort and reassurance that I was participating in a program that was going to help me with my mental wellness. I feel that this program should be made available to all police officers of all tenures of their policing career and not wait until stuff has built up within them over the years. Nobody should have to suffer in silence when having to serve their community or suffer in their personal lives. I wholeheartedly endorse this program to all active members in the policing environment."

"Like many police officers, I minimized traumatic events. My body knew it was traumatized, but my brain was saying nothing was wrong. I struggled at work: my emotions felt out of control and I suffered.The program was a turning point in my recovery from this burnout and cumulative stres. I am now in my 26th year of policing and using the tools I learned. Every police officer should have the opportunity to participate in this program—to learn, truly understand and practise positive, mental health strategies in a safe place. A dedicated space for first responders to take this program is essential for the future of healthy police officers and police departments."

"I know I speak for all of us—we give up little bits and parts of ourselves and our humanity on the job. My wife of 29 years told me a few months after I came back that I had moved closer to the man she married years ago."

"As a 15 year member, I have never participated in anything that had as much of a positive effect on my life as this retreat. It was life changing. The format of group therapy not only helped me through sharing my experiences, I learned from others’ experiences as well. It was a stark reminder that none of us are alone in our journeys. Since the program I have been able to implement the tools and suggestions that were shared with me and this has made all the difference. This is a program that every police officer should have the opportunity to experience. It is the way to take care of the caretakers. "

"I was hesitant at first—I had never tried group therapy. As police, it can be hard to be vulnerable with your peers. I kept an open mind because of the great things I heard about the program. I was not disappointed. Being vulnerable with one’s peers created a bond of fierce trust and understanding. This program is so beneficial to help police officers get back to the path, and to stay on the path of mental health resiliency that is required for this job."

"The group setting at first was daunting, and I kind of felt a little out of place; there were definitely others in attendance that were clearly suffering. Any reservations I had were dispelled very quickly. It was like a lightbulb turned on when I learned that my body and nervous system are both beautifully complicated in its response to trauma, yet simplistically normal. We all respond to stress and trauma differently and experience it in varied ways, but the common thread is that as police officers can learn to recognize our individual responses, and address them before they cripple our relationships and our lives. Growth after trauma is not only possible, but it is something we are deserving of."

"I am a police officer with 14 years of service. I attended the program because I knew that I needed some space and distance from my everyday life in order to work out some challenges I was facing in my personal and work life. Many first responders have suffered in silence and it is through programs like this that we have an opportunity to take care of people whose job is to take care of others. This program allowed me to share these challenges together with other attendees in an organized and safe environment. It allowed me to understand what I had struggled with and that I was not alone. My experiences, however unique, are shared by others in how we emotionally react. Whether we are scared, traumatized, sad, or overwhelmed, someone else has felt the same. This program creates a sub-culture where mental health is just as important as our physical safety."

"It was difficult, Intense, emotional, and at certain points I wanted to get up and leave. I’m so happy I didn’t. It’s hard to explain, but somehow I feel a weight has been lifted. At the end of the program, I wasn’t ready to leave and wished I had more time. For me, the program was life changing."