A groundbreaking mental health rehabilitation facility specifically for first responders is set to be built in Caledon, marking a first for Ontario’s healthcare system.
The provincial government has committed funding to establish the facility that will primarily support first responders (firefighters, paramedics and police) dealing with post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI), a condition increasingly impacting the mental well-being of emergency service workers.
“We owe a tremendous debt to our first responders, who make incredible sacrifices every day to keep families and communities safe,” said Premier Doug Ford during a press conference in Caledon in February when he announced an additional $10.9 million in funding for the project.
In 2022, the Region of Peel donated a 38-acre property in Caledon, located in Mono Mills near Highway 9 and Airport Road, for the construction of the 40-bed, inpatient treatment facility.
“It gives me great pleasure to transfer this beautiful piece of Peel property to develop one of Canada’s first PTSI Centres of Excellence,” said Nando Iannicca, Peel’s regional chair. “I can think of no better use for this land than to transform it into a healing space for first responders in their time of need.”
The Caledon facility will be connected with an outpatient and assessment rehab centre at Runnymede Healthcare Centre in Toronto.
The province plans to offer a range of services, including mental health assessments, rehabilitation, residential treatment, virtual care, 24/7 crisis support, peer support, and navigation services.
An estimated 23 per cent of first responders and public safety personnel suffer from PTSI, according to the province. Peel Region employs more than 2,000 paramedics and police officers, many of whom are regularly exposed to high-stress and traumatic situations.
“The PTSI Centre of Excellence is a vital added layer of support for Peel paramedics, providing them with another option to seek help when they need it most,” said Brian Gibson, Peel’s paramedic chief. “We are fortunate that this first-of-its-kind facility will be built here, where paramedics and our allied partners can easily access and benefit from it.”
Once operational, the facility will serve an estimated 1,500 workers annually, with the capacity for 41,700 visits. Over time, the program could expand to assist even more first responders and other frontline workers.
The next phase of the project involves collaboration with Runnymede Healthcare Centre to complete the planning and design stages. A construction schedule will be confirmed once future planning is complete and the project is tendered and awarded.