In the early hours August 8, 2020, amid COVID, Jason Johnston suffered a psychological workplace injury on a call for assistance during duty with Regina Emergency Medical Services. Eventually a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was labeled to Jason from the target incident and cumulative psychological traumas. Before proper supports could be put in place, Jason’s PTSD symptoms had manifested into a myriad of other conditions, symptoms, and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Working with therapists, community programs, and out of pocket programs, Jason decided more could be done and wanted to take a proactive approach and help individuals in his own situation or prevent them from happening. The idea of a ‘peer support network' came to mind which would be a donation based organization which would link service workers with situational traumas, adding another outlet for those suffering. Jason needed a ‘hub’ when he turned to childhood friend, Steven Dawe, an established software developer, to help build the face, base communication hub, initial contact point, and service start area of the peer support organization.