This afternoon, VOCM and the Health Care Foundation are joining forces to host a radiothon to help support first responders in our province through the First Responder Psychological Safety Collaborative.

Sometimes, the people who stop the bleeding and start the breathing also need help. In other words, to keep us safe, they have to keep themselves safe.

Eastern Health began this particular program as a pilot a few months ago. It allows police, paramedics, search and rescue personnel, firefighters and others who have to deal with horrific situations, to speak the same language when it comes to mental health.

Troy Mitchell is a human resources strategist with psychological safety as one of his specialty areas. He says people who do that work benefit from the training and education delivered in the Collaborative.

To donate, go to www.healthcarefoundation.ca or call 777-1459 or 1-833-310-0334 from 1 to 5 p.m.