Ontario Passes Legislation to Support First Responders with PTSD

Ontario passed legislation today that recognizes post traumatic stress disorder in first responders as a work related illness.

Under the existing rules, first responders had to prove that their PTSD was directly related to their job in order to be eligible for coverage under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.   Now that this legislation has passed, once a  first responder is diagnosed with PTSD by either a psychiatrist or a psychologist, the claims process to be eligible for WSIB benefits will be expedited, without the need to prove a causal link between PTSD and a workplace event.

The government says first responders are at least twice as likely as the general population to suffer from PTSD, and that the condition results in more suicide attempts than all other anxiety disorders.

Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown calls the bill a step forward for police, firefighters and paramedics struggling with PTSD, and says he hopes it will save lives.