Champions of Mental Health Nomination 2024

Champions of Mental Health Awards recipients will receive: 

• A limited-edition CIPSRT gold challenge coin; 
• A certificate of recognition; 
• CIPSRT swag; 
• National recognition for their efforts on CIPSRT’s website and social media; and, 
• Invitation to CIPSRT’s Champions of Mental Health virtual forums.

The Champions of Mental Health (CoMH) awards by CIPSRT recognize individuals within public safety organizations who have made significant contributions to mental health. They are a form of peer recognition for PSP in working-level and leadership positions. To be eligible for nomination, candidates must meet the following criteria: 

1. Nominees must be PSP, either working level (frontline or other) or leadership, within a public safety organization who are:
   • Individuals (we do not currently award teams or groups)
   • Sworn or civilian
   • Active or retired, and
   • Career or volunteer
2. Nominees must be nominated by someone; they cannot self-nominate;
    
3. Nominees must work or be affiliated with one of CIPSRT’s recognized Canadian public safety sectors: 
   • Border Services
   • Corrections
   • Firefighters
   • Emergency Managers (Indigenous Emergency Managers, Red Cross)
   • Operational Intelligence Personnel
   • Paramedics
   • Police
   • Public Safety Communicators (911, dispatch) 
   • Search and Rescue Personnel 

Elected officials are not currently eligible to be nominated for this award. 

CIPSRT, the University of Regina, and our federal funders, are committed to fostering an environment that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Recognizing and celebrating the contributions of PSP across sectors from coast-to-coast-to-coast, including underrepresented groups within public safety sectors. Honouring the achievements of diverse individuals within the public safety sector is essential to building a stronger, more inclusive community. 

We encourage nominations for all champions of mental health in PSP organizations across Canada. This can include individuals from, and/or leading initiatives designed to provide support to, the following groups: 

• 2SLGBTQIA+ PSP (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and other gender-related identities)
• Black, Asian, Latin, Middle Eastern, and other PSP of color 
• Indigenous PSP (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis)
• PSP with Disabilities
• Women PSP  

A nominee’s choice to provide all, some, or no demographic information has no bearing on consideration for this award. Likewise, meeting any or all the demographic criteria identified does not guarantee receipt of an award.   

Up to 20 nominees will be selected as Champions of Mental Health by a review panel comprised of earlier champions, members of the CIPSRT Public Safety Steering Committee (PSSC), and staff at CIPSRT. The review committee aims to select a diverse group of Champions with representation from each of the public safety sectors, from distinct geographic regions of Canada.  

Evaluation:  

To be considered a Champion, a nominee will be evaluated on the following criteria: 

1. Commitment to evidence-based/evidence-informed practice; 
2. Impact on the mental health of their organization and community (e.g., changes or improvements they have been able to make); 
3. Willingness to share insights from their experience as a PSP; 
4. Creation of mental health and wellbeing resources and/or programming; 
5. Commitment to decreasing mental health stigma; and, 
6. Activities as a peer supporter or member of a reintegration team. 

Champions of Mental Health are passionate and genuine when it comes to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of everyone in the organization.