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for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) to advance studies on how service affects not just personnel but their families. “When a first responder struggles, it ripples across their loved ones,” says Dr. Fusco. “That’s why our solutions include supports for spouses and children— because families serve too.” In a truly 360° system of care, wellness touchpoints must connect back into digital tools and training programs to create a feedback loop that identifies emerging risks, guides interventions, and connects to the wider system of support. In doing so, these solutions become both a diagnostic and strategic lever—ensuring that the rest of the system is mobilized around real-time worker needs rather than operating in silos.
shouldn’t start after burnout—it should be built in from day one. Our “every-step-of-the-way” approach combines a range of solutions including suitability psychological suitability and regular wellness checks to monitor on-the-job wellbeing, address stressors early, and connect individuals and their families to the right care. These programs keep prevention, early intervention, and recovery as part of one continuous system for individuals and their families. In law enforcement, for instance, nearly 44% of Canadian public safety personnel screen positive for at least one mental health disorder. 1 The constant exposure to trauma, long shifts, and pressure to remain stoic make these roles uniquely challenging. Dr. Nina Fusco, Chief Psychologist at Calian, has worked extensively with law enforcement to shape the support programs delivered to these individuals. She explains “For many officers, the hardest part isn’t the nature of the work— it’s the stigma, which is often internalized, that is heightened in public safety professions.” Her team’s assessments go beyond evaluating readiness by revealing how ongoing exposure to trauma, shift work, and stigma shape mental health, while fostering open conversations about prevention, recovery, and resilience in public safety work. “We need to move from reactive crisis care to proactive wellbeing and resilience building,” says Dr. Fusco. Beyond frontline care, Calian partners with organizations such as the Canadian Institute
promotes a coordinated response, and fosters an organizational culture of psychological safety. “Our goal is to make learning feel real,” says Matt Thomas, Director of Immersive Learning at Calian. “When people experience the emotions of a situation in a safe environment, they build empathy and confidence that carries into their work.” This kind of experiential learning does more than build skills—it builds culture. It helps teams recognize self-stigma, practice empathy under pressure, and model the kind of openness that makes seeking help feel safe. And when training is connected to real-time insights and lived experience, it becomes a living system—one that grows with every encounter and strengthens every layer of care.
Training for empathy and resilience
The safety net: crisis care as the backbone Even in a system built on
Technology can connect people to care, but it’s the human response that determines the outcome. Our work with mental health clinicians, crisis-response staff and first responders has shown that sustainable mental health systems start with emotionally equipped, empathetic responders.
prevention and early intervention, moments of crisis are inevitable and require a coordinated, well- prepared response layer. Calian manages several crisis call centres across Ontario, providing critical clinical care to callers experiencing a mental health crisis. These call centres exemplify our 360° model where crisis response is coordinated, data-informed, and human. Dedicated teams monitor overflow, high-risk events and real-time escalation pathways to ensure that individuals at acute risk are connected immediately to the right care. According to Dr. Fusco, the success of a crisis program depends on integration. “You can’t just have
Calian’s immersive learning solutions use simulation and
scenario-based training to prepare clinicians and front-line responders for real-world challenges. Through realistic, hands-on experiences, learners strengthen empathy, refine de-escalation techniques, and practice trauma-informed care—all within a safe, risk-free environment. As part of a 360° system, this training builds a shared language across teams,
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