Local paramedics and co-founders of the #IVEGOTYOURBACK911 social media awareness campaign have developed a new app designed to offer anonymous support for mental health and trauma experienced by first responders in the line of duty. The app is available exclusively to first responders through their peer support teams, who must offer access to the app.
The app itself
Once granted access, first responders can seek anonymous help for mental health challenges and trauma stemming from their work experiences.
XFM News spoke with Shaun Taylor, co-founder of the #IVEGOTYOURBACK911 campaign, about the creation of the IGYB911 app.
“We were approached by a tech organization, probably about just over a year ago now, and they expressed some interest in partnering with us to create this app and obviously use our name, our brand, and our reputation that we’ve had for the last 10 years helping first responders. I thought it was an absolutely fantastic idea,” said Shaun.
He explained why the app is crucial, not only for local but also international first responders.
“It gives first responders a safe space where they can reach out for help. There’s still a stigma around asking for assistance, often seen as a sign of weakness. We need to end that stigma and create a completely confidential and anonymous environment where help is available when needed.”
Shaun also highlighted the impact of repeated trauma on first responders: “On average, a first responder in North America witnesses between 303 and 500 traumatic events during their career, which will affect you.”
When asked about what the app provides, Shaun explained,
“it allows complete anonymity so nobody will know who is in there asking for assistance. It will allow them to be able to communicate with their own peer support team that their service already has set up if they choose to do so, so they can get their resources from their own peer support team and then they can look for the assistance that they’re needing from there.”
Shaun also says ” It gives them the opportunity to go external and go to one of our partners that we financially support since there inception six years ago, which is boots on the ground.”
Boots on the Ground is an organization dedicated to providing peer support for first responders.
