Health · Mental Health · 17 hrs ago
P.E.I. firefighter shares PTSD experience to help others speak up
Ernie Gallant spent 20 years as a volunteer firefighter in New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island.
In the summer of 2020, he said his body and mind crashed, and he was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
He believes his years responding to fires played a major part in his condition.
A traumatic call in 2003 left him triggered by turning left out of his driveway.
Since last year, Gallant has been giving presentations called “Left Turn” at fire halls across P.E.I. to share his experience and encourage firefighters to talk about trauma.
He says older firefighters may especially benefit because younger members are now receiving more mental health training.
Gallant plans to keep speaking with fire crews to help others who may be struggling.
Ernie Gallant, a former volunteer firefighter in Prince Edward Island, is speaking publicly about his PTSD experience to help other firefighters.
He was diagnosed with PTSD after 20 years of service with the New Glasgow Fire Department.
Gallant says a particularly traumatic fire call in 2003 continued to trigger him.
Last year, he began giving presentations called “Left Turn” at firehalls across P.E.I.
He says older firefighters may especially benefit from talking about their experiences.
- Who
- Ernie Gallant, a former volunteer firefighter with the New Glasgow Fire Department.
- What
- He is sharing his experience with PTSD through presentations to help other firefighters speak about trauma.
- When
- He hit a wall in the summer of 2020 and was later diagnosed. He began giving presentations last year.
- Where
- New Glasgow and firehalls across Prince Edward Island.
- Why
- He wants to help firefighters who may be struggling with trauma and mental health.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I didn’t know what was going on
My legs came out from under me and I was crying.
Every time I come out of the driveway and looked left, I was triggered
He said, 'I need you to come because the older members need to hear this,'
Gallant responded to a particularly traumatic fire call that he says later triggered him.
After 20 years as a volunteer firefighter, Gallant says his body and mind crashed.
Gallant was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Gallant began giving “Left Turn” presentations at firehalls across P.E.I.
- Fire department
- New Glasgow Fire Department
- Length of service
- 20 years as a volunteer firefighter
- Diagnosis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Traumatic call
- 2003
- Presentation title
- Left Turn
- Presentation location
- Firehalls across Prince Edward Island
Sources
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