Reality is stranger than fiction! Don’t believe me? Just take a look at “Tiger King” on Netflix and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Why is this important? Simply because too many people aren’t taking the COVID-19 virus seriously. It seems like people watch or listen to the news and don’t think it will affect them or their loved ones.
This pandemic has certainly changed how we operate at Toronto Police and has us rethinking our approach to communication and meetings. Skype and teleconferencing are now widely used, and we are socially distancing as best we can. But in our profession, social distancing isn’t always easy, so we have our Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at the ready to ensure we are policing safely and being where the community needs us most. Social distancing is tough and changing your routine can be difficult. Mix in the anxiety that comes with such a dangerous virus and stress can undoubtedly build. That’s why it’s so important to stay as connected as possible with friends, colleagues, and loved ones.
I first became a Mo-Bro seven years ago and not long after my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer (very happy to say that he is a survivor). Since that time, I’ve come to focus more and more on the mental health side of this amazing organization as it is an often overlooked and a highly stigmatized part of our health. Staying mentally fit, preventing suicide, and having difficult or challenging conversations about health brings us closer and helps us better understand one another. While you may be coping well, others might not be. The simplest gestures often go the farthest in letting someone know you care about them. Staying mentally fit and having difficult or challenging conversations about health brings us closer and helps us better understand one another. My advice for staying socially connected is simple: JUST DO IT!! Share Tweets and Instagram posts, use Zoom and TikTok, create YouTube videos, and update your Facebook profile (does that make me sound old?).
I’m using FaceTime, old fashioned telephone calls, scouring Twitter and Instagram feeds - some of my favourite posts have been from Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds). If you didn’t know, he and his wife have donated millions in the USA and Canada to help fight hunger during COVID-19. Fun fact: Ryan is not only Canadian, his father was also a cop and may explain why I like him so much. Another awesome link, and discovered on the recommendation of Mr. Reynolds, is John Krasinski’s “Some Good News” (SGN). I think everyone should watch this, and with over 13 million views, maybe we already have! If you haven’t, have a tissue handy.
This is the time to come together as a community and know that by challenging yourself to stay indoors, you could be saving a life - the life of a loved one, a neighbour, a delivery person, a doctor, a nurse, a paramedic, a firefighter, a police officer, and anyone else who is putting themselves in harm’s way for us all. So please, wave at the garbage collector, thank the cashier at the grocery store, and don’t be afraid to smile at a cop! Remember, we are all in this together.
To speak with someone immediately, contact your local crisis support line on 1-833-456-4566.
If you're ever worried that someone's life is in immediate danger, call 911 or go directly to emergency services.
