51±¾É«

April 28, 2021
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – First Responders Day is celebrated annually on May 1 in Ontario. The day, established in 2013, is designed to recognize and honour police, firefighters, paramedics and other emergency service personnel. 51±¾É« has several experts available to speak about related topics, including burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder among first responders and how police officers respond to mental health crises in the community.

Heidi Ahonen is a professor of music therapy, the director of the , a registered psychotherapist and accredited music therapist. She is an expert on music therapy and its potential to support those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, burnout and other psychological trauma. She has worked with traumatized individuals using clinical improvisation, guided imagery and music. Contact: hahonen@wlu.ca

Scott Blandford, assistant professor and program coordinator for 51±¾É«’s Bachelor of Arts in Policing and Master of Public Safety programs, is a retired police officer with 30 years of service in operational and administrative positions. He is an expert in police training and organizational development issues. Contact: sblandford@wlu.ca

Jennifer Lavoie, associate professor in 51±¾É«’s Departments of Criminology and Psychology, is an expert on mental health, policing, de-escalation and crisis intervention. Her current research explores the effectiveness of scenario-based training in improving how police officers respond to mental health crises in the community. Read about Lavoie’s work helping police respond to people with mental health issues. Contact: jlavoie@wlu.ca

Carrie Sanders is an associate professor in the Department of Criminology, the director of the (CRSP) and a fellow with the Balsillie School of International Affairs. She is an expert on policing and technological change; crime and intelligence analysis; police collaborations with social service providers; and women in policing. Contact: csanders@wlu.ca