Holistic Recovery from Operational Stress: Championing a new approach to post-traumatic growth for firefighters, leading to faster recovery and return to duty

In 2022, Fire Captain Mike Sears faced significant stress and health issues, leading him to take a leave of absence and attend the BC firefighter resiliency program. There, he learned new communication and self-care strategies. After returning to work, he applied these techniques during a traumatic call involving a high-speed car accident. 

Mike introduced a non-traditional peer support method, encouraging crew members to express their emotions rather than just recounting details. This approach helped them process the difficult event they witnessed and maintain family connections. 

Mike emphasized the importance of evolving communication practices to support both personal and professional relationships, highlighting the need to address and process traumatic experiences to prevent compounding emotional injuries and maintain relationships.