York Region CISM Team

Meet 4 year old, Eisley. Eisley's Dad is a police officer working within an Emergency Response Unit. Given all the pressures with COVID-19, and with the many tr...agic events impacting the military and First Responder community nationally, she wanted to give back. In response, she has designed a wristband titled Brave the Storm and hopes to raise $1,500 in support of our mental health programs. You can purchase a wristband here: https://store.woundedwarriors.ca//brave-the-storm-wristband. Thank YOU, Eisley!

There's a familiar smiling face . $8000 more to reach the $50,000 goal! And keep the food donations coming. Thank you everyone https://heywritergrrl.wordpress.com//to-dare-greatly-with/ https://www.gofundme.com/f/we039vegotyourbackampfront911-he

Hi All. These will be launching today at 2pm. We will be donating funds to the #NOVASCOTIASTRONG fund set up by Wounded Warriors Canada. The site is down until 2pm today. Purchase only at www.ivegotyourback911.com

Today is #InternationalFirefightersDay! Thank you to all firefighters across Canada, both past and present, for your exceptional courage, extraordinary commitment and selfless dedication to ensure that our communities and environment are safe. #CanadianPublicSafetyPersonnel

You've met our team member Saul as a participant of the Paramedic Ride. Saul is also a very talented musician. Have a listen and reach out if you need to.

Congratulations Chief Jolliffe. Enjoy your retirement!

We mourn the loss of Constable Heidi Stevenson, who died in the line of duty. Sending heartfelt condolences to our colleagues in Nova Scotia, and deep sympathy to her family and friends. #HeroesInLife #RCMPNS ^JT

Andrea had her first round of Chemotherapy on Friday. Here is a picture of her during treatment. Can you tell she is still smiling ???!!!! We are with you Andrea! We are connecting with many people regarding meals for her family. It’s so wonderful to see the support !! Andrea is going to be eating like a Queen! https://www.gofundme.com/f/we039vegotyourbackampfront911-he

Sustaining Resilience and Helping you Child Cope during COVID-19 - from the ICISF

APRIL 2, 2020by Amanda Goodfellow, Organizer Hello Everyone! The last 24 hours has been an emotional rollercoaster for Andrea. The love and support that has flooded in after this posting went up has been overwhelming for her. Good overwhelming. There have been many tears shed. Tears of surprise, gratitude and sheer thankfulness. Andrea has been truly speechless (and that's saying something if you know anything about Andrea!) at the kindness and generosity that has been shown ...to her. I want to thank everyone for their support and generosity. We have been truly humbled. Our phones have not stopped since the posting. So many offers of meals and help have flooded in. I am truly in awe by the community that surrounds me. We both feel so lucky to be a part of it. Thank you is truly not a big enough word for the appreciation we feel. You have changed Andreas life, an amazing thing has been accomplished. I have spoken with Andrea today. I was at her house watching as Sophia and her got their hair cut. Andrea looks amazing with her short hairstyle and Sophia is rocking a fancy side cut. Her brave little daughter cut her hair in support of her mother. Both children are now aware of their mothers fight and it made my heart smile watching the girls with their mom. Olivia even said "mom, I hope your boob feels better". Ha! Andrea is going to post an update soon. Her chemotherapy starts tomorrow (hence the haircuts) and she has been busy spending time with her family before life changes for a little while. She wants everyone to know that the texts, emails and phone calls are so meaningful to her and she is just overwhelmed by the love and support. She is trying her best to get back to every single one. And she will, it just may take a little time. With that, please wish Andrea all the best of luck tomorrow and thank you all for your continued support. You have truly touched many lives with your generosity. https://www.gofundme.com/f/we039vegotyourbackampfront911-he

Hi York Region, First Responder and CISM families. One of our own York Paramedic and CISM team members needs your help. Please have a look at Andrea's story and donate what you can! Thank you https://www.gofundme.com/f/we039vegotyourbackampfront911-he

A Message from the York Region CISM Team With the rapid spread of COVID-19 around the world, our country has taken unprecedented measures to protect us. However, because of the nature of your job you are at the forefront and helping those in need. Unlike the controlled environments in a health care facility, first responders are faced with unique challenges including variable workplace settings, enclosed space during transport, and frequent need for rapid decisions on limite...d information. These are the things first responders endure to help protect and care for our community. Despite the education and procedures that each of your workplaces have devised to help protect and inform you, we know that in times of uncertainty, feelings of anxiety are not uncommon. We are all human and it is natural to worry about the well-being of our family and loved ones. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. Not everyone will react to this outbreak the same way. We must be respectful and gentle with each other’s responses. Some common stress responses during COVID-19 may include: Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones Changes in sleep or eating patterns Difficulty sleeping or concentrating Worsening of chronic health problems Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs Anyone with pre-existing mental health conditions should continue with treatment and always be mindful of any new or worsening symptoms. Taking care of yourself can help you cope with the stress. The healthier you are, the better able you will be to help and support others. Here are some suggestions that you can do to support yourself: Take breaks from the pandemic by not reading, watching or listening to the news, including social media. Take care of your body through occasional deep breathing, stretching, or meditation. Try to eat well-balanced meals, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and avoid drugs and alcohol. Take time to unwind. Don’t be hard on yourself or your kids about an increase in screen time. Connection is important and necessary to mental wellness. Connect with others by talking to people you trust about your worries or concerns. If you happen to be quarantined, use FaceTime or Skype to get more connection than just over text or the phone. For those of you who work in a group or with a partner, keep an eye on each other. Check in with one another. Be each other’s support! We hope this information helps. Please feel free to connect with any of our CISM Team members if you have any worries or concerns. https://yorkcism.ca//COVID-19-Message-from-YR-CISM-Team.pdf

York Region reports fifth positive case of COVID-19. This positive case is a female in her 60s from the City of Richmond Hill. This case is travel related who r...eturned home from Egypt on Thursday, February 20. Visit york.ca/covid19 for additional details and tips to protect yourself. The risk to York Region residents of COVID-19 continues to remain low and there is no evidence of community spread within York Region.