Thursday marked the first every Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) awareness event in Canada and first responders in the region decided to get in on the message.
"In every community, we have people living with trauma," said Staff Sgt. Gabe Tetreault, on Thursday. "And I think it's important that we remove the stigma attached to that."
Tetreault is the peer support group leader at Chatham-Kent Police Services. He was accompanied at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent by representatives across the spectrum of emergency services, including fire, ambulance, probation officers and corrections officers.
"We need to change the culture of how we recognize PTSD, how we address it, and how we treat it," he said.
Among the dozens of people on hand for a luncheon at the Civic Centre, Aaron Hall, Chatham-Kent's acting mayor for July, said bringing awareness to the ongoing issue of PTSD is vital.
"It's important to bring awareness to the issue, bring it to the forefront, and break any barriers that may still be perceived for dealing with it," said Hall.
PTSD awareness among first responders has been a focal point for discussions in the U.S. for many years but 2019 is the first time it is being recognized in Canada. It is an initiative that is welcomed by the region, as the issue has been prevalent for years.
Of the four emergency branches speaking during the afternoon, Chatham-Kent Fire Chief, Rob Crawford said it is important to keep the conversation going.
