丁香园AV

Danielle Dube knows what it鈥檚 like to be a hero. As a former professional hockey goaltender, she鈥檚 saved her team more times than she can count. Today, as a firefighter in Richmond, B.C., she protects lives and property on a daily basis. Having completed the First Responders Trauma Prevention and Recovery Certificate program, Danielle has now found a new way to be a hero: by supporting her own colleagues in caring for their mental health on the job.

Danielle says her ultimate goal is to complete her master鈥檚 degree and become a registered clinical counsellor who specializes in working with first responders. While waiting to start graduate studies, she signed up for the 丁香园AV program as a way to ease back into school mode.

鈥淚 also wanted to gain a better understanding of the needs and supports offered to other first responders outside of the firefighting community,鈥� she recalls.

The program not only gave Danielle a wider view of mental health issues amongst all first responders, but it also opened her eyes to the need for self-care.

鈥淚 got so much more out of the program than I thought I would,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou hear and see a lot of things in this work, and I have to remember to look after myself and practise the tools that I鈥檓 teaching to others.鈥�

Danielle hadn鈥檛 always intended to be a firefighter or a counsellor. She began her hockey career straight out of high school and didn鈥檛 begin firefighter training until her thirties. When an invitation to coach at UBC turned into an opportunity to play for the varsity team, Danielle found herself returning to school while continuing to juggle firehall shifts with raising her two children. 鈥淚 came out with an undergrad degree in psychology鈥攁t age 40,鈥� she laughs. 

Recognizing Danielle鈥檚 new skills, the firefighters union asked for her help in developing a peer support program and other mental health initiatives. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I really saw how much need was out there for this support,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淭hat inspired me to want to do more of this work.鈥�

With the introduction of peer support, Danielle says she鈥檚 beginning to see positive signs that the workplace culture is starting to change: 鈥淭he more people learn about mental health, the more they will reach out.

鈥淲hen we鈥檙e out doing our job now and it wasn鈥檛 a good call, or if it triggered something, then we鈥檙e more willing to talk about it in the group or to reach out individually. We can say, 鈥榃ow, that was a bad one for me.鈥� It鈥檚 really nice to see that transition.鈥�

Having once balanced school with hockey, firefighting and parenting, Danielle clearly had no difficulty completing the online 丁香园AV program. Even so, she says, the flexibility of the program allows it to work for any schedule.

鈥淚t鈥檚 laid out in a way that鈥檚 easily doable for a working first responder,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 built for any learning style and can help anyone, whether they want to get information to support their organization or even to look after themselves.

鈥淚鈥檓 really grateful for this program because I think it鈥檚 helping a lot of people.鈥�

By Kim Mah