About EMS Peer Support & Wellness Solutions

OUR HISTORY

Mark has been a long-standing member of the Peer Support Team, witnessing firsthand the transformation and growth of the program over the years. By 2014, it had become increasingly clear that both the Peer Support initiative and the broader needs of the membership required greater attention. The emotional toll of the job — including traumatic calls, exposure to human suffering, and operational or organizational stressors — was taking a visible and visceral toll.

By 2014 Molly too recognizing these massive changes in her peers and decided to take it upon herself to start asking questions. Why were so many people becoming injured? What supports existed within the organization? How were other first responders agencies supporting their members? She began her own journey in canvassing for theses answers…

In 2015 it was too late, tragedy struck: the loss of a fellow paramedic to suicide served as a stark wake-up call and accelerated the urgency for change. With support from leadership and a nomination from the membership, a Mental Health Task Force Team was formed. Comprising Molly, Mark, and five others, the team embarked on an extensive review of best practices and industry standards across Canada and internationally.

This research culminated in a technical paper titled “Development of a Psychological Support System: Establishing a Healthy Mental Workplace.” The paper laid out comprehensive recommendations, which were submitted to the employer — and so, the door to meaningful change began to crack open.

Over the following seven years, Mark and Molly, developed and coordinated this new Peer Support program. With consistent collaboration and support from leadership — grew the Peer Support Team from just 6 members in 2015 to a peak of 140 members by 2020. By 2021, the team maintained a strong presence with over 120 active, committed volunteers. In 2019 alone, they provided approximately 950 member contacts, including diffusings, one-on-one support, follow-ups, and referrals to professional resources. These conversations played a crucial role in reducing stigma and normalizing discussions around mental health.

But the team’s efforts didn’t stop there.

In addition to strengthening the Peer Support framework, they developed and sustained various wellness initiatives — all while building a culture of community and connection. The impact of this grassroots movement has not only widened the doorway to change; it has forced it open.

Established in 2015, the Peer Support Team in Edmonton Zone EMS was created to connect members with resources, support, and one another. Built entirely through volunteerism and funded solely by donations and fundraising efforts, the team has created a wealth of programs — all with minimal cost to the employer. Their dedication, compassion, and vision have reshaped the mental health support system from the inside out.

“The Peer Support Team Mark and I had the privileged to co-create and manage from 2015-2022 are a remarkable group of individuals that empower staff to be their best and show up as their best. A group of over a hundred individuals who give so much of themselves to support others, especially throughout the pandemic. The EMS practitioners throughout the Edmonton Zone have also been a big part of this success story. Collectively showing their unwavering patronage in supporting the mission to create a psychologically safe workplace that is people centered. So, we want to stop right there and say…..Thank you for supporting your peers and improving the workplace!”

– Molly Varga 2021