The York Regional Police (YRP) Wellness Unit
The York Regional Police Wellness Unit is dedicated to supporting the health, wellness, and overall well-being of YRP members. Recognizing that policing can present unique personal and professional challenges, the Wellness Unit provides a range of services, resources, and programs designed to support members throughout their careers.
The Wellness Unit promotes a proactive approach to wellness by focusing on mental health, physical well-being, resilience, recovery, and healthy workplace functioning. Through education, support services, wellness initiatives, and collaborative partnerships, the Wellness Unit helps members access the care and resources they need to maintain their health and well-being.
Recognizing that wellness is more than the absence of illness, the Wellness Unit takes a holistic approach to well-being by providing programs, services, resources, and supports that promote overall health and quality of life.
The Wellness Unit's approach is grounded in four interconnected wellness domains:
Psychological Health Unit
The Psychological Health Unit helps to enhance the wellness of members by providing a variety of services, including consultations, counselling, baseline and Safeguard appointments, and educational and training activities. We are registered mental health professionals (psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists) offering professional diversity through different theoretical approaches, work experiences, and clinical competencies. We offer free confidential, professional, and friendly services to all YRP members to help them achieve their mental health goals.
Members can access our services directly by reaching out to their embedded Clinician at their district, any clinician on our team, and through our general mailbox. Please go on the YRPNet or YRPA website to get contact information or contact YRPA Family Wellness.
We can arrange for in-person meetings at an embedded location or at the Wellness Centre. We also have secure virtual capabilities.
Psychological Services Available
The Psychological Health Unit offer confidential services to all members (sworn, civilians, part-time, recruits, auxiliary, retirees, and students).
Services include, but are not limited to:
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Safeguard sessions
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Consultations and counselling for a variety of issues, whether work related or not (e.g., relationship issues, depression, sleep problems, anxiety, loss and grief, etc.)
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Mental preparation for requalification
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Exposure sessions after critical incidents or as a part of reintegration/return to work
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Education and training on psychology topics
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Callout coordination for critical incidents and post-incident outreach when required
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Helping facilitate referrals to external mental health providers or specialized treatment (e.g., addictions, eating disorders, ADHD assessments, etc.), including when required for WSIB paperwork.
Peer Support Unit
The Peer Support program provides all employees with the opportunity for peer support and resources during times of personal or professional needs. Our Peer Support members have the responsibility of trust, anonymity and confidentiality for all employees seeking assistance.
Peer Support is committed to the well-being of every member and creating a healthy workplace through leadership, organizational culture and personal health practices. Each police district has an embedded peer that supports the members there.
Peer Support Unit also has peer support dog, Meghan.
Spiritual Health Unit
A Chaplain is a religious and spiritual care provider who is a recognized and trained member of a religious or spiritual community. A Chaplain is qualified and engaged to provide both emotional and spiritual support to individuals as requested.
The Spiritual Unit currently has eight multi-faith Chaplains available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. Our volunteer Chaplains hold the honorary rank of Inspector and work in close cooperation with the Member Support Bureau to provide services to active and retired members (sworn and civilian) when required and/or requested.
Any member may contact a Chaplain directly. Requests for the services of a Chaplain at a police related event or ceremony shall be directed to the Manager of the Member Support Bureau or designate.
Biological Health Unit
The Biological unit offers tailored exercise programings for special cases such as training for specialty units and those returning-to-work following injury. Non-tailored workout programs are currently under development and will be made available to members on the YRPNet and the Wellness First App. General fitness programs can be found in the “Training Programs & Education" section.
We also offer introductory fitness classes and informational group presentations. Check out the calendar for upcoming events, seminars and programs.
For information on training strategies for shift work and other evidence-based fitness material, please visit subsection “Science of Exercise" under the “Training Programs & Education" section.
For information on PIN testing and to schedule a PIN test, please visit the PIN Testing section.
Information relating to chronic health conditions, injuries and public health information can be found in the “Health" Section.
Reintegration Support
Returning to work after a lengthy absence can be a daunting prospect. But you don't have to do it alone.
The Reintegration Program provides consent-based and collaborative support to sworn and civilian members returning to work following critical incidents, medical or mental health-related absences or parental leave. The program will also offer support to members returning to the frontline after a long tenure in a non-frontline position.
Program services help members recover their skills and return to their roles with confidence, providing exposure to firearms, scenarios, vehicles, dispatch, communications and other job-specific elements.
The program is not used to assess skills or evaluate performance. It does not act as an alternative to remedial training, performance management or discipline, or schedule annual requalification or training programs.
There is no requirement to engage with the program, even following a critical incident. For those who do participate in the program, attendance is voluntary.
Members from across the organization can engage with this program, and members working with mental health clinicians or other health care providers can include them in the planning and implementation of their reintegration program.
None of the information about a member's individual program, skills or competencies will be shared with anyone outside of the unit, without their consent.
You can learn more about the Reintegration Program by YRPNet or YRPA.