Supporting Wellness
Toronto Police Service Chief Myron Demkiw said prioritizing members’ wellness is the right, as well as the smart thing to do, at the Bell Let’s Talk Day flag-raising ceremony at the college on January 22.
“When I first became Chief, I had a meeting with a group of youths in the community and I asked them what could we do to better serve them,” he recounted. “The first thing they said was make sure your officers are healthy because it has a direct impact on how they treat people day to day. It is in the interest of everyone that our members have access to the right resources to help them prioritize self-care. As an organization, it is in our best interest too because we want our members to have long, healthy and successful careers with us.”
Bell Let’s Talk Day is an initiative dedicated to the promotion and support of mental health across Canada.
Since 2010, Bell has partnered with over 15,000 organizations to provide free mental health support services, focusing on reducing stigma around seeking care and increasing access to workplace mental health and research.
It is the largest corporate commitment to mental health in Canada.
Since its inception, the Chief’s Wellbeing program has been delivered to almost 600 new officers. Including a pledge, it supports awareness education and personal accountability.
Demkiw said the program is being expanded this year.
“Due to the demand, part of the program will be delivered to many more members in the In-Service Training Program and other supervisor training,” he said.
In his 35th year with TPS, Demkiw said he has seen a lot in his policing career.
“And the one thing I have learned over time is that when we support each other, it is much easier to overcome challenges,” he said. “Last year, we engaged in a Peer Support Transformation initiative. We will be selecting and training 160 new Peer Supporters into this new unified program who can respond to the needs of our members as they arise. This new program will be called the ‘Peer Support Network’ and will be launched before the end of the year. I have personally benefitted from peer support programs when I needed them in the past and I want to make sure that everyone can access the same kind of support.
“Whether it is the Chief’s Wellbeing Program, the Peer Support Network or our new Therapy Dog Program with Louis who is the Service’s first therapy dog, we are committed to getting our members the support they need.”
The Chief announced a partnership with Trillium Health Partners Expedited Mental Health Service program to offer mental health supports to TPS members.
“That is great news because we know how vital it is to get the help you need when you need it,” he added. “Trillium Health Partners will efficiently connect members who are seeking quick access to specialized care with first-responder mental health clinicians.”
As the employer, Toronto Police Service Board member Nick Migloire said the Board has the ultimate responsibility for members’ health and safety.
“We continue to support the Service’s efforts to protect the mental health of its membership, including reducing stigma around seeking help and normalizing conversations about mental health,” he said. “The health of our members is a paramount priority. The Service has invested and will continue to invest in resources that support the ongoing well-being of members and we encourage our members to access the range of supports offered by the Service.”
Migloire noted that the flag-raising at the police college where the Service’s new Wellness hub is located is a symbolic demonstration that mental health and psychological wellness is a corporate priority.
“It is critical that we remember each and every day that the wellness of our members is a principal concern for all of us and that we must work together to achieve the best results in this area,” he said. “Let’s talk about real change. Let’s talk about mental health. Let’s talk about feeling scared and feeling anxious. And let’s talk about supporting one another every single day through this essential journey.”
Toronto Police Association President Clayton Campbell thanked members who do the hands-on work in Wellness.
“In addition to the TPS Wellness Team, you are a group of dedicated professionals who are committed to the health and well-being of our colleagues,” he said. “The frontline officers may get most of the attention, but like many other valuable roles in this organization, it is your support that allows these frontline members to do what they need to do.”
This year’s flag-raising coincided with the opening of the Service’s new wellness hub at the police college. TPS has Wellness centers in the city’s east and west end and downtown.
Chief Operating Officer Svina Dhaliwal said the new facility is a key step.
“We are trying to be an employer of choice and we have been on a journey in the last few years to do just that. Every single cadet, new Special Constables and Communication Operators along with every officer in our In-Service training as well as a host of our Civilian professionals do not go a year without being able to come to the college at least once and often more than that,” Dhaliwal said. “To have our Wellness front and centre and quite visible for everyone to see at the place where we train and teach our equity work and where we talk about resilience just reinforces what the College means"
