HELPING THE HELPERS – PRESUMPTION OF ILLNESS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

INTRODUCING – Presumption of Illness for First Responders in British Columbia .

** WARNING – THIS VIDEO MAY CAUSE TRIGGER **

Introducing Presumption of Illness for First Responders Iin Br…

** WARNING – THIS VIDEO MAY CAUSE TRIGGER **This has been a very difficult post to try and write. How do you explain in words how it feels to go from the darkest depths of the devils belly – after living for many years slowly loosing your family, 3 attempted suicides , loosing your career, countless treatment centers, detox centers, doctors, shrinks, and more meds than your local pharmacy has in store as we speak.Years and years of trying to prove to Worksafe BC that your Post Traumatic Stress , and all the symptoms are work related. How does one express how it feels , to travel the world, and shake many peoples hands , and tell the story to every news, radio, newspaper, website, podcast, and all social media as to how important it is that we bring more public awareness not only to PTS – but also to this Bill M203 .Last year, with the help from all of our sponsors and 100's of volunteers the day finally came true, when we had the honour to be invited to sit and be witness to a change in history when Shane Simpson – tabled Presumption of Illness during our #ITSNOTWEAKTOSPEAK tourThanks to @Shane Simpson – BC NDP and to the over 6000 people across Canada who have helped sign our petition , Finally , the moment we have all been waiting for.Under the Workers Compensation Amendment Act, when a First responder is diagnosed with a Post Traumatic Stress Injury, it will be deemed as a result of their occupation.This will end the hurdles around WorkSafeBC claims and the related unacceptable delays that too many of our Public Servants who need support are facing today.Lets not get to excited yet, because this same Bill was tabled last year, and the Liberal Government wanted nothing to do with it – therefore, since then, this last year in BC alone, 19 more of our Public Safety workers have ended their lives, leaving there familes behind, with again ZERO HELP from Worksafe BC . Its time to make serious changes in todays Goverment.100 years ago ( 1917 ) 306 Soldiers 23 of them Canadians, were lined up and executed by fireing squad for being considered "Cowards" because they were showing signs of what we call today – PTSDThese men, ( some only 17 – 19 yr old boys ) had their blindfolds removed before being executed to show how Brave they really are.100 years ago – ( 1917 )Worksafe BC was founded.Worksafe BC Mandate is as follows – Our organization was established by provincial legislation as an agency with the mandate to oversee a no-fault insurance system for the workplace.* We partner with employers and workers in B.C. to do the following:* Promote the prevention of workplace injury, illness, and disease* Rehabilitate those who are injured, and provide timely return to work* Provide fair compensation to replace workers' loss of wages while recovering from injuries* Ensure sound financial management for a viable workers' compensation systemSURE LOOKS GOOD – SOUNDS GOOD – The only thing that has changed with Worsafe BC, in the last 100 years is that we have gone from shooting people with PTSD – to just leaving us out to rot and die by suicide all alone still without any help what so ever.Ummm, did I miss something in the mandate I just read ?In order for a First Responder to feel safe in asking for help, He or She needs to be sure it's actually there for them.** note ** I have written over 110 000 words regarding my personal feelings on this Bill and how important it is that it passes through legisaltion , I have beat my head against walls these last few weeks trying to minimize my words and facts about WCB – and my conclusion to it all , is this .Its far to much, far to deep , far to dark to write about in a facebook post so for my own sanity, I must keep this post as simple as it is – * forgive me for not being able to find it in words to descibe how it feels to have a rifle down your throat, forgive me for not being able to express in words just how it feels to be absolutly shit on by these worksafe animals , or how to minumize my words as to how it feels to loose your soul mate, your family , your career, the nightmares, the over whelming amount of stress, depression , anxiety ( as do 1000's of other First Responders and people ) have tried to survive with for so many years before ending up scrurring around the dark alleyways beyond paranoid – beyond scared, beyond the point of no return – hopeless – hungary and totally given up on ever wanting to breath another breath of air, or see another dark night.Words will never describe what its actually like to be on your hands and knees begging for your life , looking up at the very people you used to risk your life for and wonder, why cant you hear us , why cant you see us , you used to thank us for our service, you used to smile at us when we came to your rescue and here we are now needing someone , anyone , please help us , please hug us.* I really can;t even begin to tell you how this feels to even sit here now with this feeling that , this Bill being tabled – is by far the best thing that can happen to all of our Emergency Services, and is a start to bringing more help to anyone suffering with Mental health Challanges . Thank you to all of you who helped sign our petition, and flip our tire over many mountians and especially for helping share our posts with your friends and family in order to get to this stage of the game , where , when this Bill passes – ( as long as NDP get the mahority of votes ) then history will really be made .This is a tough post for me to write about , cause , it really brings up alot of happiness, but , for some reason I have been feeling over whelmingly sad and depressed knowing that , even thought this is tabled and accepted for a second reading, its the people who are out there right now DYING to get some help, and in reality ..it might not come if our current Government doesnt make some changes now .I will never forget what the feels like, to be sitting and hopeing tommorrow will bring some sort of hope, some sort of answer, some sort of solution, support , something .That feeling when your step kid isnt eating , or you can barely pay your bills, or are even so far in debt , it just feels like you are 20 feet under water reaching for the surface and wth each passing wave, you sink deeper and deeper, with each breath , your soul and spirit becomes more and more disconnected .I had better stop writing now , and give you more time to watch history in the making – Great work Shane Simpson – Much Respect Brother – ( today May 9th is last day to vote for John Horgan ) Katrina Chen, BC NDP Candidate for Burnaby-LougheedBC NDP Women's Rights CommitteeElect Bobby Deepak, BC NDPDana Larsen for BC NDP leaderBC NDP Surrey-White Rock Provincial ConstituencyBurnaby North BC NDPSue Powell, Parksville Qualicum NDPHarwinder Sandhu BC NDP Kelowna Mission 2017Kal TireMountain FMWhistler BlackcombSummit Lodge Boutique HotelCreekside Dental WhistlerVancouver Police DepartmentMounted Police Professional Association of CanadaDistrict of North Vancouver Fire and RescueVancouver Fire & Rescue ServicesSurrey Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 1271Paramedics on FacebookParamedicsPTSD In Paramedics, EMTs, First RespondersYour Province, Your ParamedicsNational Suicide Prevention Lifeline '1-800-273-TALK (8255)'Nesters Market & Pharmacy – WhistlerPasta LupinoScandinave Spa Whistler

Posted by Its Not Weak to Speak on Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Its Not Weak to Speak –  @notweaktospeak

This has been a very difficult post to try and write. How do you explain in words how it feels to go from the darkest depths of the devil’s belly – after living for many years slowly losing your family, 3 attempted suicides, loosing your career, countless treatment centres, detox centres, doctors, shrinks, and more meds than your local pharmacy has in store as we speak.

Years and years of trying to prove to Worksafe BC that your Post Traumatic Stress, and all the symptoms are work related.

How does one express how it feels to travel the world, and shake many people’s hands, and tell the story to every news, radio, newspaper, website, podcast, and all social media as to how important it is that we bring more public awareness not only to PTS – but also to this Bill M203.

Last year, with the help from all of our sponsors and 100’s of volunteers the day finally came true, when we had the honour to be invited to sit and be witness to a change in history when Shane Simpson – tabled Presumption of Illness during our #ITSNOTWEAKTOSPEAK tour

Thanks to @Shane Simpson – BC NDP and to the over 6000 people across Canada who have helped sign our petition. Finally, the moment we have all been waiting for.

Under the Workers Compensation Amendment Act, when a First responder is diagnosed with a Post Traumatic Stress Injury, it will be deemed as a result of their occupation.

This will end the hurdles around WorkSafeBC claims and the related unacceptable delays that too many of our Public Servants who need support are facing today.

Lets not get to excited yet, because this same Bill was tabled last year, and the Liberal Government wanted nothing to do with it – therefore, since then, this last year in BC alone, 19 more of our Public Safety workers have ended their lives, leaving there familes behind, with again ZERO HELP from Worksafe BC .

Its time to make serious changes in todays Goverment.

100 years ago (1917)

306 Soldiers 23 of them Canadians, were lined up and executed by firing squad for being considered “Cowards” because they were showing signs of what we call today – PTSD

These men, (some only 17 – 19 yr old boys) had their blindfolds removed before being executed to show how Brave they really are.

100 years ago – (1917) – Worksafe BC was founded.

Worksafe BC Mandate is as follows –

Our organization was established by provincial legislation as an agency with the mandate to oversee a no-fault insurance system for the workplace.

* We partner with employers and workers in B.C. to do the following:

  • Promote the prevention of workplace injury, illness, and disease
  • Rehabilitate those who are injured, and provide timely return to work
  • Provide fair compensation to replace workers’ loss of wages while recovering from injuries
  • Ensure sound financial management for a viable workers’ compensation system

SURE LOOKS GOOD – SOUNDS GOOD –

The only thing that has changed with Worsafe BC, in the last 100 years is that we have gone from shooting people with PTSD – to just leaving us out to rot and die by suicide all alone still without any help what so ever.

Ummm, did I miss something in the mandate I just read?

In order for a First Responder to feel safe in asking for help, He or She needs to be sure it’s actually there for them.

** note ** I have written over 110 000 words regarding my personal feelings on this Bill and how important it is that it passes through legalisation, I have beat my head against walls these last few weeks trying to minimize my words and facts about WCB – and my conclusion to it all, is this .

It’s far too much, far too deep, far too dark to write about in a facebook post so for my own sanity, I must keep this post as simple as it is –

* forgive me for not being able to find it in words to describe how it feels to have a rifle down your throat, forgive me for not being able to express in words just how it feels to be absolutely shit on by these worksafe animals , or how to minimize my words as to how it feels to lose your soul mate, your family, your career, the nightmares, the overwhelming amount of stress, depression, anxiety (as do 1000’s of other First Responders and people) have tried to survive with for so many years before ending up scurrying around the dark alleyways beyond paranoid – beyond scared, beyond the point of no return – hopeless – hungry and totally given up on ever wanting to breath another breath of air, or see another dark night.

Words will never describe what its actually like to be on your hands and knees begging for your life, looking up at the very people you used to risk your life for and wonder, why cant you hear us, why cant you see us, you used to thank us for our service, you used to smile at us when we came to your rescue and here we are now needing someone, anyone, please help us, please hug us.

* I really can’t even begin to tell you how this feels to even sit here now with this feeling that, this Bill being tabled – is by far the best thing that can happen to all of our Emergency Services, and is a start to bringing more help to anyone suffering with Mental health Challenges.

Thank you to all of you who helped sign our petition, and flip our tire over many mountains and especially for helping share our posts with your friends and family in order to get to this stage of the game, where, when this Bill passes – (as long as NDP get the majority of votes) then history will really be made.

This is a tough post for me to write about, because, it really brings up alot of happiness, but, for some reason I have been feeling over overwhelmingly sad and depressed knowing that, even thought this is tabled and accepted for a second reading, its the people who are out there right now DYING to get some help, and in reality ..it might not come if our current Government doesn’t make some changes now .

I will never forget what the feels like, to be sitting and hoping tomorrow will bring some sort of hope, some sort of answer, some sort of solution, support, something.

That feeling when your step kid isn’t eating, or you can barely pay your bills, or are even so far in debt, it just feels like you are 20 feet under water reaching for the surface and with each passing wave, you sink deeper and deeper, with each breath, your soul and spirit becomes more and more disconnected.

I had better stop writing now and give you more time to watch history in the making –

Great work Shane Simpson – Much Respect Brother –

(today May 9th is last day to vote for John Horgan)

Katrina Chen, BC NDP Candidate for Burnaby-Lougheed
BC NDP Women’s Rights Committee
Elect Bobby Deepak, BC NDP
Dana Larsen for BC NDP leader
BC NDP Surrey-White Rock Provincial Constituency
Burnaby North BC NDP
Sue Powell, Parksville Qualicum NDP
Harwinder Sandhu BC NDP Kelowna Mission 2017

Kal Tire
Mountain FM
Whistler Blackcomb
Summit Lodge Boutique Hotel
Creekside Dental Whistler
Vancouver Police Department
Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada
District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue
Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services
Surrey Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 1271
Paramedics on Facebook
Paramedics
PTSD In Paramedics, EMTs, First Responders
Your Province, Your Paramedics

About the author: Terrance Kosikar

I was the first responder to a fatal accident at the Whistler Sliding Center on Opening Day of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Although I was well trained in a myriad of life saving techniques, I was not prepared to deal with the emotional impact sustained while on the job. As a result of the fatality, I developed a Post-Traumatic Stress Injury that launched me into a very costly downward spiral. During several years of severe depression, anxiety, nightmares, and substance abuse, I lost my family, my career, and nearly my life. Pushed to my breaking point, I found salvation within. Escaping to the back-country near Lillooet, BC, I found peace and purpose in Mother Nature’s beauty and simplicity. Many others who have suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress have not been so lucky. By raising awareness and destigmatizing this debilitating mental injury, we can help the people suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress get the help they need.