Sessions
Keynote 4 - Stéphane Grenier - Beyond Critical Incidents - The unintended consequences of focusing on Trauma
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM Wed
Breakout Session 3D - Stéphane Grenier and Nate Stahle - The intersection between Peer Support and CISM
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Wed
Stéphane knows the toll mental health problems can take on individuals and workplaces firsthand. Traditionally, mental health difficulties in the workplace have been principally viewed through two lenses: the performance lens and the clinical one. Clinicians treat symptoms and leaders manage behaviors. For first responder organizations, the lens has mainly been one focused on Trauma and Critical Incidents.
Anchored in decades of experience in the field of peer support, Grenier provides his audiences with pragmatic advice on how first responder organizations develop corporate cultures of open, non-stigmatizing approaches to mental health and well-being that does not un intentionally exclude .
He approaches first responder mental health from a broad perspective that is not limited to critical incident exposure but that covers the entire spectrum of challenges and lived experiences uniformed personal face on a day to day basis as well as every other member of the organization who do not wear uniforms but who also work in the same organization.
Blending lived accounts, riveting corporate case studies, leading-edge research and passionate arguments that the status quo is no longer acceptable he validates the intent to help all the while makes first responder have a critical look at existing methods and what can be done to innovate and close the gap.
Brief Bio: Served in the Canadian Forces for 29 Years. Over the course of his career, he served and or deployed to following locations: Norway 1986, Czech Republic 1992, Rwanda 1994-95, Cambodia 1996, Haiti 1997, Lebanon 1998, Kuwait 1998, Afghanistan (Kandahar) 2007.
He coined the term OSI in 2001 to de-medicalize the overall approach to workplace mental health and also allow the paradigms to shift and be more inclusive of other than “Trauma” as factors that cause mental health challenges by including Grief, Fatigue and Moral conflict which is now part of the international research agenda.
He created the National Defense Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS) Program in 2002. In 2004 he created a bereavement peer support program to support families who experience the loss of a loved one. Was named OSI Special Advisor to the head of Military Personnel in 2008 to impact strategically on how National Defense Policy regarding mental health. Was seconded to the MHCC in 2010 to lead the Peer Project. Created Peer Support Canada (PSC) in 2011, a charitable organization mandated to provided certification services for those peer supporters who work inside the health care system along with clinicians and oversaw it’s transition to the Canadian Mental Health Association National office as a program in 2016.
Founded MHI in 2012 and grew the organization from 1 individual to close to 50 partners, associates and employees over the course of the last 10 years and who’s flagship service offering remain the implementation and management of corporate of health care system peer support programs.
HONOURS AND AWARDS
Order of Canada - Governor General of Canada – Leadership Mental Health
Honorary Doctor of Laws - University of Guelph – Leadership Mental Health
Champion of Mental Health - CAMIMH – Leadership Mental Health
Meritorious Service Cross – Governor General of Canada - Leadership and Project Management Mental Health
Deputy Minister of National Defense Commendation – Project Management and Crisis Management
Chief of Defense Commendation - Leadership and Project Management Mental Health
United Nations Commendation – Leadership during the post war humanitarian crisis in Rwanda