Medavie Foundation focuses its funding in the area of Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) on public safety personnel and their families with the objectives of:

  • improving access to evidence-based services and supports for public safety personnel and their families impacted by PTS
  • increasing awareness and understanding of what is needed to support public safety personnel and their families impacted by PTS

Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) refers to the highly variable symptoms of stress or distress that may be experienced after exposure to a potentially traumatic event. Some groups of people are disproportionately affected by PTS because of the nature of their work. Among those at higher risk of PTS are public safety personnel, including paramedics, firefighters (career and volunteer), police as well as Indigenous emergency managers, search and rescue and public safety communications personnel (911 operators, dispatchers), correctional services officers, border services officers and operational intelligence personnel.

Post-Traumatic Stress not only affects person who experienced trauma, it can impact their families and support systems too — from their household to relatives, friends, and anyone who plays a significant role in their life. Families can be key to ensuring care is accessed as soon as possible. At the same time, families face immense pressures themselves and they need assistance, too.

Want to see what one of our PTS partnerships is like? Read about our partnership with PSPNET.

Questions? Visit the FAQ page.

To be considered for funding within the Post-Traumatic Stress focus area, the organization/initiative must meet the following criteria:

  • are located in a region in which Medavie has operations (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador)
  • applicant organization must be a community-based non-profit
  • demonstrate strong organizational financial management and governance
  • the community benefiting from the support are public safety personnel (as defined above) and/or their families
  • funds will be used primarily in support of counselling / therapy services by licensed mental health care professionals (e.g., psychologists, counsellors, therapists) at no cost to the person receiving care OR in support of activities that increase awareness and understanding of PTS and its impact upon public safety personnel and their families
  • evaluation of mental health service delivery outcomes that includes tracking of usage as well as clinical outcomes (i.e., change or maintenance of symptoms).

Looking to apply for funding?

Step 1: Complete the eligibility quiz below to determine if your post-traumatic stress initiative is a potential fit with the funding criteria.

Step 2: If there seems to be a fit with the criteria, you will be able to download the expression of interest form and instructions for next steps.

Is your organization and the activities located in one or more of the following regions where Medavie operates: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador?

Is your organization a registered charity or other qualified donee with Canada Revenue Agency OR are you a community-based non-profit group that can receive funding in partnership through a registered charity or other qualified donee?

Will the services/initiative focus on public safety personnel OR healthcare providers and/or their families?

Will the requested funds be used to help public safety personnel OR healthcare providers address Post-Traumatic Stress (highly variable symptoms of stress or distress that may be experienced after exposure to a potentially traumatic event)?

Will the requested funds be used primarily in support of counselling/therapy services by licensed mental health professionals (e.g., psychologists, counsellors, therapists) or in initiatives that will increase the awareness and understanding of PTS and its impact on public safety personnel and their families OR healthcare providers and their families?

Does your evaluation framework include tracking of clinical outcomes of the mental health counselling / therapy as well as usage?

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