Thunder Bay’s paramedics are shining a light on PTSD and suicide.
Superior North EMS spokesperson Andrew Dillon tells us they want to remember paramedics they’ve lost over the years and those that continue to struggle with PTSD.
“No service whether they are big or small, city or district, nobody is exempt from dealing with the issues of posttraumatic stress and mental health issues and the possibility of suicide in the workplace. Nobody is exempt from the possibility of losing their life and not coming home at the end of the day in the course of doing our job,” Dillon says.
Recently, a Paramedic Memorial Bell toured Thunder Bay and Rainy River as part of a cross-Ontario memorial bike ride.
The memorial ride typically takes place in southern Ontario but because of COVID-19, officials decided to take the bell across the province.
On Wednesday, the bell was in Thunder Bay.
“It was a privilege to do it and normally we don’t see the bell, but it was a really great opportunity for us to showcase Thunder Bay District and Northwestern Ontario to the rest of the province,” Dillon says.
Over the past couple of days, paramedics from Superior North EMS have travelled around the region taking photos with the Bell at area landmarks such as Kakabeka Falls and the Terry Fox Monument and were also joined by members of the Fort William First Nation, including Chief Collins, for photos on Mount McKay.
