With you through thick and thin. That's the message of support for first responder colleagues facing a mental health battle.
Across the country Saturday, police officers and their allies are strapping their helmets on, mounting their bikes and riding to support mental health initiatives for veterans, first responders and their families through Wounded Warriors Canada.
In North Bay, close to 50 officers and other first responders were biking away in the annual Ride For Mental Health.
"They're not alone and there are support systems out there," said Constable Rick Dagenais, of the Ontario Provincial Police, who was cycling for his fellow police officers.
Riders from the OPP, North Bay Police Service, Anishinabek Police Service as well as military personnel from the Canadian Armed Forces were participating.
OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique is the national ride patron and was in attendance.
"100 per cent there's a stigma. You know, police officers are who everybody else looks to in life in their time of need," Carrique told reporters.
"They're the ones not only expected to be strong but be the strongest."
What started out as a ride to support Canadian Afghanistan veterans whom were injured or ill evolved when more awareness of the ‘invisible injury’ known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) came to light and Wounded Warriors Canada decided to help those struggling in silence.
Over $400,000 in donations have been collected which goes right back into the organization's specialized group-based, clinically facilitated mental health programming.
"Across the country we have over 100 clinicians who deliver our programs and one of the things that we're doing now is we're very much involved in occupation awareness training," Philip Ralph, the director of Health Services for Wounded Warriors Canada, said.
Nearly half of 5,000 first responders surveyed screened positive for one or more mental health injuries due to the nature of their line of work.
"We ask ordinary people to do extraordinary things that impact their mental health and this is our way to say thank you and ensure they've got the right resources," added Carrique.
The North Bay Police Service formed an agreement with Wounded Warriors Canada last year to hold its first ride to provide mental health support. It also has its own ever-growing officer wellness program, which is run by its members.
"When we talk about growth of it, we talk about extending some of the training that our officers have on how they provide peer supports," said Deputy Chief Michael Daze.
Riders say they're standing together to show struggling first responders they're not alone in the fight.
To donate to the cause, click here.
