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Jennings has been fighting to have her own PTSD recognized as work related since 2014. The decision on her final appeal is due Jan. 17.

“I thought it was a clear-cut case,” she said. “But here I am, more than two years later, still waiting.”

Photo by Submitted / Lisa Jennings

Jennings became a paramedic in 1993 when she was living in Calgary. She quit law school after a thrilling ride-along with an ambulance crew made her realize her calling.

She moved to B.C. in 1997 and saw a counsellor for “transitional issues” related to the move, she explained. She went to counselling again when her parents died in 2007. Two years ago, while out on a routine call, she was assaulted.

“I worked for a month after that,” she said. “I remember going onto the night shift, and I was about halfway into it when I drove through a stop sign. I knew I wasn’t myself.”

Jennings suffered a breakdown and spent time in the hospital. Her WorkSafeBC claim for PTSD was denied.

“They determined that I had a well documented psychiatric history for accepting some counselling,” she said.

While going through the appeal process, Jennings met others who were also fighting to have WorkSafe claims accepted. Of the 19 suicides recorded this year, she believes 16 had WorkSafe claims denied.

Jennings wants the government to add a presumptive clause to the workers’ compensation legislation, meaning that if a first responder is diagnosed with PTSD it would automatically be assumed to be an occupational illness unless proven otherwise by WorkSafe.