The Tema Foundation
Free 1-hour online workshops designed to build resilience, strengthen mental health, and support those who serve our communities.
Note: by registering for one session, you are automatically registered for all upcoming sessions.
About the Series
The Tema Foundation, with support from the Nova Scotia Mental Health Foundation, is proud to offer a series of free online training workshops for first responders, healthcare providers, and their loved ones.
Running from September 2025 to March 2026, these sessions provide practical tools, real-life insights, and peer-focused support to help navigate the mental, emotional, and relational challenges of the job.
Each 1-hour workshop is offered twice monthly and covers key themes, from resilience and trauma to family life, communication, and suicide prevention.
Note: by registering for one session, you are automatically registered for all upcoming sessions.
Workshop Schedule
January 2026
Injured, Not Broken: Changing the Conversation on Mental Health
Date & Time:
January 23, 2026 ⇒ 09:00 AM (AST)
**Workshop times are held in Atlantic Standard Time zone (Nova Scotia) – Check your local time
Overview:
First responders are tough, but they’re also human. This one-hour workshop challenges the harmful belief that struggling means you’re broken. Instead, it introduces a more accurate and compassionate view: you’re injured, not broken, and injuries can heal. Through honest conversation, participants will explore the impact of trauma, stress, and moral injury on mental health, and learn why early support and peer connection are key to recovery. This session helps reduce stigma, promote help-seeking, and remind responders that strength includes knowing when to reach out.
Note: by registering for one session, you are automatically registered for all upcoming sessions.
After the Call: Coming Home to Yourself and Your Family
Date & Time:
January 28, 2026 ⇒ 05:00 PM (AST)
**Workshop times are held in Atlantic Standard Time zone (Nova Scotia) – Check your local time
Overview:
What happens after the sirens stop? This one-hour workshop invites first responders to reflect on how critical incidents linger, not just in the body and mind, but also in relationships at home. Participants will explore the importance of post-incident acknowledgment, how to reconnect with themselves after high-stress calls, and how their presence (or absence) can affect family dynamics. Communicating with people at home in a way that doesn’t completely tank them with details is as important as avoiding saying nothing. Learning ways to communicate with uninvolved family and friends is crucial to maintaining supportive and positive relationships. Through guided reflection and practical tools, this session supports responders in navigating the transition from the field to home life with greater awareness, embodiment, and care.
Note: by registering for one session, you are automatically registered for all upcoming sessions.
February 2026
Before and After the Call: The Power of Pre-Briefing and De-Briefing
Date & Time:
February 12, 2026 ⇒ 07:00 PM (AST)
**Workshop times are held in Atlantic Standard Time zone (Nova Scotia) – Check your local time
Overview:
Every call impacts responders, not just during the event, but before and after. This one-hour workshop highlights the importance of intentional pre-briefing and de-briefing as tools for psychological readiness, team cohesion, and emotional recovery. Participants will learn how setting intentions before a call can improve focus and safety, and how thoughtful de-briefing afterward can support processing, reduce stress buildup, and strengthen peer support. It is about the ‘power of permission.’ By making these practices routine, first responders can build a culture of care, resilience, and operational excellence.
Note: by registering for one session, you are automatically registered for all upcoming sessions.
March 2026
Clear is Kind: Communication That Connects in High-Stress Moments
Date & Time:
March 02, 2026 ⇒ 10:00 AM (AST)
**Workshop times are held in Atlantic Standard Time zone (Nova Scotia) – Check your local time
Overview:
In emergency work, how we communicate can be just as critical as what we do. This one-hour workshop focuses on the essential communication skills every first responder needs, both as a sender and a receiver. Participants will explore how stress impacts clarity, tone, and interpretation, and learn techniques to improve active listening, reduce misunderstandings, and deliver messages with empathy and precision. Whether on a chaotic scene or during a tough conversation with a colleague or loved one, strong communication builds trust, teamwork, and safety.
Note: by registering for one session, you are automatically registered for all upcoming sessions.
Staying Connected: Suicide Prevention and Intervention for First Responders
Date & Time:
March 19, 2026 ⇒ 05:00 PM (AST)
**Workshop times are held in Atlantic Standard Time zone (Nova Scotia) – Check your local time
Overview:
First responders are often the first to help others in crisis, but may struggle to reach out themselves. This one-hour workshop focuses on recognizing the warning signs of suicide, both in the people you serve and among your peers. Participants will learn practical, compassionate strategies for intervening in moments of risk, how to have honest conversations that can save lives, and the importance of checking in, not just when things are falling apart, but long before. Because staying connected is one of the most powerful tools we have in preventing suicide.
Note: by registering for one session, you are automatically registered for all upcoming sessions.
Why Join the Training Series?
- Free to join thanks to the NS Mental Health Foundation
- Build resilience and prevent burnout
- Strengthen relationships at work and at home
- Learn practical tools from experts in first responder wellness
- Connect with peers who truly understand the challenges