During the month of Movember, Morden Fire and Rescue raised $1,700 to help fund men's health projects.
Sean Christianson, a firefighter and paramedic with Morden Fire and Rescue, says his involvement with Movember began with a desire to build camaraderie, as well as raise awareness for men's physical and mental health.
"Because we don't always know where to look, or where to go for help, or how to know that we need help in ourselves or others. Partnering with the Morden Firefighters Association and Rendezvous Brewery, were able to raise funds for Movember and bring awareness to that."
The Morden brewery helped the department craft its first Firehouse Brew for the fundraiser.
Mental health is crucial for first responders, due to their repeated exposure to traumatic incidents, which in turn, can affect their home life as well as, relationships with family and friends. Christianson says it starts with awareness.
"Being able to recognize it in yourself, or be able to recognize it in each other, that's a huge first step. These big feelings, I call them, I think we can all relate to that. We've all had big feelings of frustration or anger or anxiety, whatever that may be. Just knowing when this is affecting me, or it's bothering me or you can see that in someone else, that's the big first step in the right direction."
For people experiencing a crisis situation, Christianson says it's important to be there for them, providing support, letting them know they are not alone, there is help and it will get better.
Since the department started fundraising efforts for Movember and men's health, its members have raised over $4,500.