After serving for nearly thirty years with the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS), Rod Salas faced a difficult revelation: he was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress and Anxiety Disorders. Five years later, he continues to struggle with the daily challenges these conditions bring.
Sharing his experience with 1130 NewsRadio as a retired VFRS captain, Salas recounted the pervasive reminders and triggers of trauma that follow him everywhere. Despite his doctor’s recommendation for specialized trauma therapy, Salas was denied access to it by WorkSafe BC. Instead, he was directed towards treatments he considered harmful, causing delays in his recovery process.
Expressing his frustration, Salas mentioned resorting to legal action to appeal the denial, emphasizing that it has been two to three years since his diagnosis.
In an impassioned open letter addressed to B.C.’s Premier and the Ministry of Labour, Salas urged for the removal of what he termed as “barriers to care,” emphasizing the critical need for legislative changes to support individuals in similar situations.
Derek Sienko, the former chief mental health officer at Diversified Rehabilitation Group, an organization pivotal to Salas’ recovery, echoed the sentiment of systemic failure. Recognizing that the suicide rate among first responders is significantly higher than the general population, Sienko emphasized the importance of adopting a more empathetic and responsive approach towards both current and retired first responders.
Salas emphasized the urgency of the situation, pointing out the alarming rate of firefighter suicides attributed to the toll of their service. Despite attempts to reach out to WorkSafe BC for comment, there was no response before the broadcast deadline.