FREDERICTON -- The wife of one of the Moncton RCMP officers killed last year is calling on the New Brunswick government to ensure that first responders suffering from post-traumatic stress have access to timely treatment and enough time to recover.
Angela Gevaudan says in a letter written to the premier that the province needs to support changes to the province's Workers Compensation Act dealing with first responders such as police officers, paramedics and firefighters who suffer from PTSD.
Her letter to Premier Brian Gallant and Roger Melanson, a Liberal member of the legislature, says Bill 15 would be a huge step towards helping first responders who may be feeling pressured to return to work.
"People with PTSD often go back to work too soon because they have to choose between losing their homes, feeding their children or sacrificing themselves and end up in worse condition than if they were able to take the time to work through it," she wrote.
"I nearly made this mistake myself."
Gevaudan cited her own experience battling PTSD in the wake of the death of her husband Fabrice, one of three officers shot to death by a gunman in Moncton in June 2014. Two more officers were wounded in the rampage.
She said having the support of her community and knowing she wasn't alone was key to her recovery.
"The first responders of this province deserve to be supported by their government in quantifiable ways and this is one of them," writes Gevaudan.
"Bill 15 will give first responders the time and breathing room they require to be able to work through their PTSD and once again become contributing members of the community."
If passed, the bill would mean that if a first responder has PTSD it would be presumed, unless proven otherwise, to be the result of events they were exposed to as part of their work, and they would be offered treatment.
The Law Amendments Committee of the legislature meets Thursday afternoon to accept a consultant's report on the Bill.
