Every day, Alberta's first responders face danger, trauma and heartbreak to safeguard the lives, futures and well-being of Alberta's families, communities and loved ones. That's why it is important to honour their sacrifice by ensuring Alberta's heroes don't face their battles alone.

Budget 2025 provides the Supporting Psychological Health in First Responders (SPHIFR) grant program with an ongoing investment of $1.5 million per year. This grant supports non-profit organizations in delivering critical mental health services to first responders living with or at risk for post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSIs), as well as those conducting applied research to advance prevention and treatment. This funding ensures Alberta's police and peace officers, correctional workers, paramedics and firefighters (including wildland firefighters) get the help they need, when they need it.

"First responders and emergency workers face Alberta's hardest moments - trauma, danger, and crisis - so others don't have to. This grant program makes sure they get the support they need when it matters most. Alberta's government will continue to stand with our local heroes by funding the services and research that safeguard their mental health and well-being."

Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade

"We owe so much to the men and women on the frontlines working as first responders - police and peace officers, firefighters, paramedics and correctional workers. These jobs come with a cost, with workers often facing post-traumatic stress injuries or other mental health challenges. I am pleased to see funding go toward helping first responders heal from these challenges."

Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction

"Supporting the mental health and well-being of our first responders is crucial. They bravely confront Alberta's most challenging situations, and this grant program provides essential resources to help them heal and continue their vital work, ensuring they receive the care they deserve."

Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

The grant program helps organizations across Alberta offer accessible, high-impact programming that addresses the psychological risks of first response work. It also funds applied research to develop and evaluate new approaches to treatment and prevention, ensuring support systems evolve to meet the growing needs of those on the front lines.

Applications are currently open for the 2025-26 intake of the Supporting Psychological Health in First Responders grant program. The application period opened March 31, 2025, and will close on May 26.

Some grant recipients from 2024-25 included:

• The Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association (received $185,435):
  • For their "First Responder and Family PTSI Train the Trainer" project. Building on a previous grant for "Working Mind First Responder," this funding will train 48 new facilitators to deliver mental health training.
     
• Legacy Place Society (received $161,000):
  • For their 12-month "Families as Allies" project to support families of first responders recovering from PTSI. The project will offer resources and strategies to help family members care for their own well-being while supporting their loved ones.

• The University of Alberta (received $331,000):
  • For their "Moving Forward: 3MDR Study with First Responders in Alberta." The project will train providers in 3MDR, an emerging virtual reality therapy for PTSD.

"The receipt of SPHIFR grant funding has been pivotal to our ongoing efforts to provide evidence-based mental health services to Alberta first responders, emergency workers and families living with or at risk for PTSI."

Craig Hrynchuk, CEO and executive director, Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association

Alberta's government is putting the well-being of first responders at the forefront because when first responders are supported, communities are safer and stronger. By investing in the mental health of first responders, Alberta's government is helping ensure the province's emergency workforce remains strong, supported and ready to serve.

Quick Facts:

• Since the program launched in 2020, 62 grants have been provided to 32 service providers and 30 for researchers, for a total of almost $7.5 million in funding.
• In the 2024-25 intake, six service providers and six researchers received a total of $1.5 million in grants.

Related information: 

• First responders' mental health grants