Investment to help Fanshawe College first responder students prepare for mental stress [Video]

Fanshawe College and the Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) have announced a $20 million investment from WSIB to establish the WSIB Centre of Excellence in Immersive Technologies and Simulation for Workplace Safety. It is the largest single research grant in Fanshawe’s history.

The new centre will use advanced technologies, including extended reality and artificial intelligence, to develop training tools to reduce mental stress among first responders or public safety personnel.

“When somebody has a physical injury, we’re able to get them back to work in three months,” said WSIB President and Chair, Jeff Lang.

“A mental stress injury, it takes years and it’s just so hard on the families, it’s so hard on the individuals, it’s hard on the workplace.”

Peter Devlin, president of Fanshawe College, said this relationship will give stronger supports for students in the future, leaning on things like technology.

The creation of the school came about …