With the first week of May being Mental Health Week, the Canadian Mental Health Association has partnered with Imperial and the Fort McMurray Public School District (FMPSD) to support the mental health of first responders.
They are introducing students to Heart Math, a new digital tool, or app that monitors your breathing and heart rate and teaches you how to reach your own Heart Rate Variability (HRV) coherence.
HRC Coherence is a physiological state helps us increase emotional composure and clearer reasoning.
Heart Math has helped FMPSD students lower their stress and anxiety levels through simple breathing exercises.
“FMPSD has been very fortunate to have Imperial Oil and Canadian Mental Health support Heart Math program in four of our schools. Teacher training for this program has been provided by Alberta Health Services,” said FMPSD Assistant Superintendent – Inclusive Education Shannon Noble, “The Heart Math program has given teachers and students the capacity to monitor their anxiety levels and develop strategies to regulate in times of high stress.”
How it works
Students from Westview Public School taught members of the Fort McMurray Fire Department how to utilize the app.
A sensor is hooked up to an iPad and then to a firefighters shirt and ear lobe.
From there the firefighters take part in a breathing exercise where they focus on their inhales and exhales and they can watch their own heart rate monitor on the screen and see themselves move from a red zone of high stress to the green zone where they are calm, cool and collected.
After using the app users will gain the power to self-regulate in times of stress and anxiety.
Lowered stress and anxiety levels can lead to:
- higher productivity, greater learning capacity and better decision making
- Greater resilience and coping skills
- Reduce stress related ti self-defeating habits and trauma
- Increased feelings of safety, nurturing and self-acceptance
“The mental health and wellbeing of our first responders is of the upmost importance,” said Deputy Chief Brad Grainger. “The participation of Regional Emergency Services in Heart Math will provide our firefighters with more tools and information to support their wellbeing during incident response.”
With the anniversary of the 2016 wildfire being the third day of Mental Health Week it is time to bring awareness to mental health so people can get the support they need.
