Resume

During my mental health journey I’ve had the opportunity to speak to different fire departments, attend various training courses, conferences, webinars and provide ideas, feedback and opinions to several different 1st responder mental health projects.


2023/06/01 (Upcoming) Building A Safer and Healthier Public Safety Personnel Community Seminar

I will be one of three keynote speakers discussing various topics relating the 1st responder mental health within the Township of South Stormon and neighboring municipalities. My presentation is:


2023/03/25-26 Peer Support Training Workshop – New Brunswick Office of the Fire Marshal

This workshop was conducted in person to teach the Office of the Fire Marshal provincial peer support team training in the Peer And Trauma Support Systems (PATSS) peer support program. The workshop was delivered to 17 participants. This workshop was delivered by myself and a fellow P.A.T.S.S. facilitator.


2023/01/18 Introduction to Trauma Exposed Professionals

This course has been designed for healthcare providers in an effort to highlight the unique work environments that are considered routine for those who serve in our Canadian Armed Forces and Public Safety professions.

The course will increase learner competencies in the Military/PSP – Civilian Divide, Military/PSP culture and will provide culturally specific clinical approaches to support the complex mental health needs of those who serve Canada at home and abroad.


2022/12/06 Clearview Fire Presentation

Provided a presentation on my journey with PTSD and symptoms to be on the look out for and lead a post-presentation discussion on mental health in the fire service.


2022/09/01 Mental Health Secratariet’s Evaluation and Advisery Table

Was invited to sit on the Evaluation and Advisory Table of the Mental Health Secretariet under the solicitor General of Ontario to evaluate and advise the provincial government on entities/organizations seeking funding for the delivery of mental health programs targeting public Safety Personnel.


2022/07/05 Fireside Chat Interview

I had the opportunity to have a great fireside chat with the founder of the Invisible Wounds organization. This was televised on a local TV station. We talked about some aspects of my own journey, reducing stigma, dealing with triggers and how digital artwork has played a role in my own journey and how that digital artwork and writings are being used to help educate others.


2022/07/06 The Messenger Documentary Interview

I was interviewed by Pratice Beriault from Anthropos Productions for their documentary called The Messenger. This documentary involves traveling across Canada interviewing various PTSD sufferers learning about their stories, struggles and mental health journey in an effort to help education the public about exactly what PTSD is, how in manifests in people and how it affects day to day lives.


2022/01/26 Webinar Guest Speaker

I had the opportunity to talk to the members of this police service via a webinar about PTSD/Suicidal Ideation in 1st responders and how it’s important to always be aware of your own mental health situation. We also discussed the benefits and importance of an effective peer support program.


2022/01/11 Operation Trauma Recovery Interview

I had the opportunity to have a great discussion with the host of the Operation Trauma Recovery podcast. We talked a little about my mental health journey and had an amazing conversation about military and 1st Responder mental health and suicide.

Watch Here

2022/01/09 Life Unscripted Radio Show Interview – Equine Therapy

I was interviewed along with an Equine Therapist talking about how equine therapy has played a significant role in my own mental health journey with PTSD.


2022/01 Peer Support Volunteer – Badge of Life Canada

Became a Badge of Life Canada volunteer assisting with the delivery of their online Psychoeducational Peer Support Meetings and acting as a resource for fire service related topics and issues.


2022/01 Peer Support Specialist – Peer and Trauma Support systems (P.A.T.S.S.)

Became a facilitator delivering peer support training that strictly adheres to the training objectives provided by the “Guidelines for the Practice and Training of Peer Support” published by the Mental Health Commission of Canada under the umbrella of the Mood Disorders Society of Canada.


2021/12/05 – Patches and Stripes Podcast

I was interviewed by Matt from Patches and Stripes. We talked quite a bit about my own journey with PTSD/depression and some of the things I’ve done to get to where I am. We also talked about the need to normalize conversations around 1st responder mental health and some of the things we can do to try and lower 1st responder suicides.

Listen here

2021/12/02 – The Power Of Our Story – Guest Speaker

As the guest speaker I discussed with the group my journey with PTSD/Depression and suicidal ideation. We also talked at length about some of my mental health artwork and the reasons behind the creation of each piece.

Watch here

2021/09/17 – CTV Your Morning Show Interview

I was interviewed live on air where the host and I briefly chatted about my PTSD journey and the hope that new CAMH PTSD prevention research is bringing to others who may be challenged with mental health conditions like PTSD.

Watch here

2021/09/12 – Life Unscripted Radio Show Interview

I was interviewed for the mental health show on 610 Talk Radio called Life Unscripted. The host and I talked quite a bit about my mental health journey, PTSD and first responders and the 2021 CAMH campaign raising funds for more research into things like preventing PTSD.

Listen here

2021/09/10 – CAMH “Not Today” Campaign

Had my mental health journey included and spotlighted as part of the 2021 CAMH Today campaign with the goal of preventing suicide and raising money for much needed mental health research. My involvement included not only an interview but also the creation of a video as well.

Watch stand alone video here

2021/09/10 – Toronto Star Article

Interviewed for an article highlighting mental health challenges and the research that CAMH is doing in regards to prevention of those mental health challenges.


2021/06/25 – Flight of Thoughts Podcast

Along with the President/Founder of Boots On The Ground I was interviewed during the podcast discussing the shared struggles of First Responders and the power of peer support with Boots On The Ground


2021/06/09 – Interview for Canadian Firefighter Magazine Article

Was interviewed for an article included in the issue of the Canadian Firefighter. The article is titled: “Firefighter takes aim at the stigma around mental health to help others in Ontario ” and was written as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the services provided by Boots On The Ground Peer Support.


2021/06/09 – Recorded Radio Commercial for Boots On The Ground

Voiced a radio commercial as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the services provided by Boots On The Ground Peer Support


2021/04 Interview for We Are Warriors Magazine Article

Was interviewed for an article included in the April issue of the We Are Warriors Magazine. The article is titled: “Rob Leathen: Breaking Down The Barriers The Raw Struggle of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” and was written by Samantha Schmidt


2021/03/24 Guest – Above Ground Podcast Episode “Uncomfortably Numb

Chatted with hosts Will Foley and Timothy Patrick about my battles with PTSD, depression and suicidal ideation and the things that we as a society and as fire service organizations need to do to promote firefighter and 1st responder mental health.


2021/03/22 Guest Presenter – Valhalla Project

Gave a presentation to the current cohort on the role that writing/journalling and art play in a PTSD recovery journey.


2021/03/03 Guest Speaker- PTSD Bunker Gear For Your Brain Zoom Get Together

Chatted with those present about the importance of peer support and 3 different peer support groups including Wings Of Change, Badge of Life Canada and Boots On The Ground. Discussion was from the perspective of a user of peer support and from a provider of peer support.


2021/01 Volunteer Peer Support Meeting Facilitator

Chatted with those present about the importance of peer support and 3 different peer Became a volunteer peer support meeting facilitator for the Wings Of Change peer support organization.


2020/11/28 Guest – The 25 Live Podcast

Chatted with host Jim Burneka about my battles with PTSD, depression and suicidal ideation and the things that we as a society and as fire service organizations need to do to promote firefighter mental health.


2020/11 Volunteer On Call Peer Support

Became a volunteer on-call peer support person for the Boots On The Ground peer support organization.


2020/11/23 Guest – The Courage Wolf Podcast

Talked with host Terry Oliver about 1st responder mental health and how my own battles with PTSD, Depression and Suicidal ideation turned into a journey of post-traumatic growth.


2020/06/30 Living Works / Center For Suicide Prevention – Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

This course teaches you how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, providing a skilled intervention, and developing a safety plan to keep someone alive.


2020/10/21 Interview by The Mighty Staff For PTSD Article

Participated in an interview about my battles with PTSD and depression with staff members of The Mighty. The interview was turned into an article about 1st responders who battle PTSD.


2020/10/06 Invisible Wounds Conference for 1st Responders

In addition to increasing awareness of how to build resiliency skills to help deal with occupational stress injuries, this conference assists First Responders interested in learning about and addressing relationships issues, anger, and mental health challenges, including, but not limited to, hypervigilance, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, PTSI, and PTSD.


2020/09/30 (2 days) Assisting Individuals In Crisis

Crisis Intervention is NOT psychotherapy; rather, it is a specialized acute emergency mental health intervention which requires specialized training. As physical first aid is to surgery, crisis intervention is to psychotherapy. Thus, crisis intervention is sometimes called “emotional first aid”. This program is designed to teach participants the fundamentals of, and a specific protocol for, individual crisis intervention.


2020/09/17 (2 days) Peer Support Training

Peer support training that strictly adheres to the training objectives provided by the “Guidelines for the Practice and Training of Peer Support” published by the Mental Health Commission of Canada.