VANFIRE Wellness
Insight Timer – Free Meditation and Mindfulness App
Insight Timer is an easy way to take a few minutes for yourself, clear your head, manage stress, or get better sleep. It offers over 300,000 free guided meditations, music tracks, talks, and mindfulness practices, covering a wide range of topics and styles. Whether you're looking for help with anxiety, relaxation, sleep, focus, breathing, emotional well-being, or just slowing things down after a tough day, there's something for you. You can choose different teachers, approaches, and meditation lengths to find what works best for you.
Free to Use, with an Optional Upgrade
The app is free to download, and you can access its huge library of free content without paying for a subscription. There is an optional paid membership called MemberPlus, which adds premium content, courses, and offline downloads. You don't need to upgrade to get started or make use of the hundreds of thousands of free resources.
How to Get the App
Apple iPhone or iPad: Download Insight Timer from the Apple App Store
Android: Find Insight Timer on Google Play
Website: www.insighttimer.com
Homewood Health – Key Person Advice Line (KPAL)
Supporting your members can be tough, especially when you're dealing with your own challenges. The KPAL line connects you with an experienced Homewood Health clinician who can help you work through difficult situations, figure out how to approach a member who may be struggling, and find the best way to support them. It's confidential and available 24/7.
How to Get Help
KPAL Line: 1-800-663-1142
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can also visit Homeweb.ca for online resources.
Officers / Supervisors Information
Connection to Care: (on call counselling)
Monday-Friday 8am - 8pm
778-247-2273 (CARE)
The Connection to Care service is a free and confidential phone support line available to municipal workers in BC. This service connects individuals with trained mental health professionals who have completed the FireFighter Occupational Awareness Program, ensuring they understand the unique challenges and pressures associated with firefighting. You call this service to help with any stress or situation you may be facing, you dont have to be struggling to call.
This service is not meant for crisis situations, so you don’t need to be in a crisis to reach out. You can call simply for advice or to navigate challenging life events and everyday stresses.
WSBC Critical Incident Response Team (Member Utilization)
WorkSafeBC Critical Incident Response Team Offers this Service.
No Claim needed, No prior CISM Deployment needed.
To contact the WorkSafeBC Critical Incident Response (CIR) Program, you can call the toll-free number:
1-888-922-3700
Purpose:
After a traumatic call you can recieve 5 free counselling sessions with a First Responder Aware Clinician
The CIR program provides confidential, early intervention for workers and employers after a traumatic workplace event.
Contact hours:
Calls are returned between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. seven days a week.
Calls made after 11 p.m. will be returned after 9 a.m. the next morning.
Services:
The program offers interventions and support from qualified mental health professionals to help manage stress and emotions following a critical incident.
Firefigher Occupational Awareness Video Serieswith Dr Duncan Shield.
Program Overview
Fire Fighter Occupational Awareness Training© is a 12-module program designed to enhance frontline knowledge of mental health injuries and reduce the emotional and behavioural impact of a career in public safety.
The curriculum combines the lived experience of those serving on the frontline with recognized subject matter experts in the field of public safety mental health.
By the end of year 1, course participants will be provided a toolkit of “self- rescue” strategies and a clear pathway to accessing occupationally aware healthcare resources in British Columbia.
This video can be used for your crew, yourself or assiting in bridging the gap to home and watching this with your supports in your life.
website:
https://education.firstresponderhealth.org/courses/bcffoat-level1
Homewood Health Support
Homewood Health is here for VFRS members and their families when the job or life at home starts taking a toll. Whether it’s a bad call you can’t shake, stress building up over time, family issues, or just going through a rough patch, support is there when you need it. The service is free, confidential, and available 24/7, with counsellors who understand the fire service and the challenges that come with the job. You don’t have to wait until things get bad to reach out, and your dependent family members have access to support too.
How to Get Help
VFRS Homewood Line: 1-877-871-8377 (VFRS)
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Free and confidential for VFRS members and their dependent family members.
Call and explain what’s going on, or ask about counselling, family support, financial coaching, or legal support.
British Columbia Professional Firefighters Association (BCPFFA)
Health and Safety
Presumptive Cancer
Crisis Centre BC
List of Immidiate Help Here
BluePrint Mental Health (Creators of FFRP *Loon Lake)
Firefighter Resiliency Program
MindHealth BC
Bounceback Free Online Stress/Anxiety Course