The government of Saskatchewan is providing a resource for its first line of emergency medical responders.

In an announcement made last week, the provincial government announced that a quarter-million dollars would be allocated to paramedics and other first responders to help with issues of mental health and addictions.

The funds will be provided to both public and private EMS responders.

Swift Current's ambulance service, Swift Current & District Ambulance Services LTD., is a private company.

The funding will be put to use in a peer support program designed to help those who work alongside EMS responders to be able to identify when an emergency responder is in need of mental health help.

Nine peer support teams will be placed in EMS regions across the province, as well as two critical incident stress management (CISM) teams.

Ken Luciak, the director of EMS in the south zone of Saskatchewan, explained the roles which the peer support teams will play.

"They are peers who are there to listen and to ask questions, to allow people to talk, and then to be able to, if at all possible, provide direction as to what resources they get for additional help if they need it."

In the event of a crisis, the CISM teams will be used in a debriefing role.

Luciak stated that the reason for the introduction of the program was in an attempt to shift the stigma on mental health.

"The intention is that we want to change the culture so that people are aware that these people are present, and have a culture that knows it's okay, and we encourage people to talk and reach out for help. That is really what our intent is - to do a culture change where it is okay to go out and talk and get help."

Due to the nature of the job, Luciak said that this program was needed to consistently ensure the general health of EMS workers.

Bob Dyke, manager of Swift Current & District Ambulance Services LTD, said that the funding was going to be well-utilized.

"Right now there is nothing, so there is nowhere to go but up. What we heard at the Paramedics Services Chiefs of Saskatchewan conference here when this was announced by the minister of health, some of the folk that are going to be hired will actually have a degree in psychology, so that's something we don't have right now."

The funding is part of Saskatchewan's Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan, which will span 10 years.