As Canada's largest contracted provider of emergency medical services, we know that supporting the mental wellbeing of public safety personnel, including our own, is crucial to building healthy communities.
These first responders help us in our worst moments — a job that inherently carries an emotional weight and sometimes comes with a deeply personal cost. That’s why post-traumatic stress (PTS) is one of three key focus areas that grounds the work of the Medavie Foundation.
Understanding trauma
With rates of PTS injury disproportionately high among first responders, scientists at one of the world’s top research institutes in cognitive neuroscience are on a mission to understand why some individuals recover from trauma, while others struggle long after the crisis has passed.
Working from Toronto’s Rotman Research Institute, part of the robust research network at the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Dr. Brian Levine’s team is launching an ambitious five-year study that will follow paramedic trainees from the earliest days of their careers.
“Our goal is to get ahead of the problem, not just treat it after the fact,” says Dr. Levine, Senior Scientist at the Rotman Research Institute, Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto and research project lead. “We want to understand what makes some people resilient to trauma, and why others are more vulnerable to developing conditions like PTSD.”
Through surveys, brain imaging, and eye-tracking technology, the research will explore how memory, cognition, and emotional processing interact when individuals are exposed to traumatic events. While previous studies have largely focused on those already living with diagnosed PTS, Dr. Levine sees value in starting earlier.
“Paramedic students are an ideal group because we can assess their mental state, coping mechanisms, social support systems, and memory traits before they’re exposed to trauma on the job,” Dr. Levine explains. “By tracking them over time, we can identify patterns that might predict who’s more susceptible to long-term psychological impacts.”
The study aims to engage 400 paramedic trainees, including many from Medavie’s HealthEd program, who will self-report through regular surveys over the next five years. As many as 50 working paramedics will also be invited to participate in brain imaging onsite at Baycrest that will help inform the research.
From early support to real progress
With early support from the Medavie Foundation, the project is already starting to gain attention. The partnership helped Dr. Levine’s lab secure seed funding that enabled early data collection and the development of tools to showcase the project’s potential.
“The Medavie Foundation was quick to come on board when they learned about our research, and that support was really a catalyst for us,” Dr. Levine says. “It allowed us to hire a research assistant, build a website, and gather enough data to successfully apply for additional support. By helping us to better tell the story of where we’re heading and why, that initial investment created a ripple effect.”
For the Medavie Foundation, healthy communities are built on the strength of those who serve and protect them, and this research is a natural extension of its commitment to improving the wellbeing of Canadians.
“It matters to me and my team that the Foundation is investing in research that deepens our understanding of trauma and resilience,” says Kim Snell, a paramedic and Commander, Mobile Integrated Health based in Elgin, Ontario. “This work isn’t just supporting our first responders but contributing to better mental healthcare for everyone.”
Care designed for each person
Beyond early intervention, Dr. Levine’s work could help transform how PTS is treated. Even the most effective therapies can’t fully account for how traumatic memories are processed in different ways by different people. Previous research has shown that memory doesn’t work the same for everyone. Some people vividly recall events in intricate visual detail, while others retain a more generalized, factual memory.
“These differences in memory style could be key to tailoring therapy,” Dr. Levine says. “If we can understand whether a person is more prone to visual imagery, for example, we might adapt therapeutic approaches to better address their specific experience of trauma.”
The study will also contribute to a broader understanding of mental health. “Memory also plays a role in many other conditions like depression, social anxiety, and panic disorders,” Dr. Levine adds. “By advancing our knowledge of how memory works in the context of trauma, we may unlock insights that improve care across the spectrum of mental health challenges.”
Dr. Krista Mitchnick, a postdoctoral fellow at the Rotman Research Institute working on the project, shares that excitement for the project’s potential. “It’s rewarding to think that what we learn here might not only help paramedics but could eventually inform better support for anyone coping with the effects of trauma,” she says.
Investing in knowledge that lasts
For Dr. Levine, this kind of medical research is also about investing in the future of health care. A dedicated mentor, he takes pride in the trainees who’ve passed through his lab, many of whom have gone on to make their own impact in clinical research ranging from traumatic brain injury to intimate partner violence.
“Half my job is advancing the research,” Dr. Levine reflects, “but the other half is training the next generation of scientists and clinicians. That’s how we ensure these discoveries continue to evolve and benefit people for years to come.”
As first responders continue to bravely shoulder the weight of helping others, research like Dr. Levine’s offers a promising path forward, prioritizing prevention, personalized care, and a deeper understanding of the human mind.
“We’re just at the beginning,” Dr. Levine says. “But every step we take brings us closer to a future where we’re better equipped to help those who help us when we need it most.”
