‘When they’re injured by trauma in the line of duty, they deserve care—not red tape, denial letters and pressure to return to work before they’ve healed’
Alberta’s first responders are facing serious obstacles when seeking support for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and families and advocates are warning that denied or delayed care is leaving many in crisis, according to a report.
Despite Bill 27—which presumes PTSD injuries are work-related for first responders—advocates say claims are still being denied or delayed.
The Wayfinders Wellness Society, a non-profit supporting first responders with PTSD, told CTV News that of the 792 psychological-injury claims filed by Alberta first responders in 2021, 227 were denied by the WCB.
“This is a systemic failure,” said Paul Wagman, founder and executive director of the society, according to the report. “Our first responders risk their lives daily for the safety of others. When they’re injured by trauma in the line of duty, they deserve care—not red tape, denial letters and pressure to return to work before they’ve healed.”
This is causing hardships for workers and their families, said Angela Smith, whose husband has served with the Calgary Police Service (CPS) for 20 years and faced an uphill battle to get his PTSD recognised and treated.
“They kept moving the goalpost to approve his claim,” Smith said, describing how her husband’s mental health deteriorated after years of exposure to traumatic incidents. “We’re unable to sleep in the same room because it’s just not safe. His nightmares are bad, and he acts out things in his sleep that he has no recollection of the next day,” she told CTV News.
Too many first responders suffer
The Calgary Police Service acknowledged the challenge, saying that about 19 per cent of officers are currently on leave or accommodations, many due to mental health injuries, according to the report.
“We are actively investing in our people and working to strengthen and evolve our processes, including navigating these ripple effects,” CPS said, according to the report.
WCB Alberta, in a statement to CTV News, argued that many unaccepted claims are due to workers choosing not to proceed, not outright denials.
“For claims under presumptive PTSD legislation, the only reasons a claim would not be accepted are if there is no confirmed PTSD diagnosis or if medical evidence shows that the diagnosis is not work-related,” the board said.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), pre-pandemic statistics indicate 12% to 23% of first responders will experience PTSD at some point in their lives, depending on the specific profession and where they are located.
As many as 70,000 Canadian first responders have suffered from PTSD in their lifetime, according to First Responders First.
