Statement from Ontario Provincial Police Association President Rob Jamieson
As many of you are aware, Provincial Constable Roch Durivage took his own life earlier today. To his family, we extend our deepest condolences.
There can be no denying the mental health crisis in law enforcement and the broader first responder community. We are asked, on a regular basis, to willingly subject ourselves to traumatic events. We sacrifice our selves, piece by piece, in the name of keeping our communities safe. For that, you are heroes, in every sense of the word; however, the burden you carry cannot and should not be shouldered alone.
You may think you are alone in your journey. Please know that you most certainly are not. The stigma that still exists may make that first step to reach out to a friend, a colleague or your Association the most frightening thing you have ever done, but we will have your back at every step. With support, you can make it through whatever you are dealing with. Sometimes this means getting our members into residential treatment programs, like Homewood Health Centre, to ensure they have the support they need. In other cases, it is being a supportive voice on the other end of the phone.
Last week, we published a list of resources that, in addition to your Association, you can contact for assistance. That list is again shown below. Post it at your detachment or work location. Check on your colleagues. Be that person that someone can come to for help. We cannot battle this stigma alone.
To that end, the OPPA has made a comprehensive mental health plan our top priority. This plan, which has been worked on over the last several months, will be announced in the coming weeks.
Today, our job claimed another hero. Today, we must commit to ourselves and to each other to look out for one another, to support each other, and to do whatever it takes to address the mental health of our fellow members.
Sincerely,
President Rob Jamieson & the Board of Directors
Ontario Provincial Police Association
Boots on the Ground – 1-833-677-2668
Shepell FGI EFAP (24/7 Peer Support) – 1-844-880-9142
OPP Wellness Unit – 705-329-6704
ConnexOntario – 1-866-531-2600
Preventing Suicide (Canadian Mental Health Association)
Suicide Overview (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)
Suicide Prevention (Ontario Association for Suicide Prevention)
Distress Centres (Distress and Crisis Ontario)
Preventing Suicide – warning signs and help (Government of Canada Public Health)
What can I do? (Canadian Mental Health Association Edmonton)
Promoting hope and resiliency (Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention)
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
