The subject of mental health remains a sensitive issue, particularly in military and public-safety professions, where stigma often silences those who struggle. Canadian Armed Forces veteran (non-combat) and former first responder Chad Kennedy is determined to change that.

“Whether it’s operational stress injuries, post-traumatic stress, complex post-traumatic stress, it’s important to talk about mental health in the public-safety and military realms, and just try to normalize conversations and end the stigma,” he says.

Trauma in military and public service

Kennedy’s journey through military and first-responder service is a profound one. Having joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1991 at just 18 years old, he experienced what he describes as hazing during basic training and battle school — harsh treatment that led to lasting trauma.

Unbeknownst to him at the time, this unacknowledged trauma would greatly impact his mental health and set the stage for later struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder. 

When his military service ended in 2002, Kennedy moved on to a career in law enforcement. He held roles as an RCMP auxiliary member, a community peace officer and a member of the Alberta Sheriff’s Highway Patrol.

He witnessed and responded to numerous traumatic incidents, which, over time, took a further toll on his mental health.

PTSD diagnosis

By 2017, Kennedy was noticing changes in his personality. He struggled with anger issues, which were interfering in both his work and personal life. Kennedy’s father, a retired RCMP officer fighting his own battle with complex PTSD, saw the signs and encouraged him to seek help.

After being referred to a psychiatrist, Kennedy received a formal diagnosis of PTSD. 

“When I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, I was sort of relieved that I had a name to put to what was going on with me,” he says.

Though Kennedy now knew the name of his condition, he received what he calls “the wrong kind of help,” and returned to work. He continued to work in silence, fearing judgement from his peers and feeling a need to remain strong for others. He avoided treatment for some time.

Kennedy’s mental health took a turn for the worse on July 18, 2020, when he was among first responders at the scene of the Columbia Icefield bus rollover.

Such an event is traumatic enough, but without adequate resources for immediate response and a lack of essential medical support for over an hour, Kennedy and his colleagues were limited in their ability to help critically injured passengers.

Three people died in the accident and 14 were critically injured. Kennedy recalls that this was the breaking point for him, intensifying his existing PTSD symptoms.  

“There was little we could do for an hour and 22 minutes, so that to me seemed like the beginning of the end for me, mental healthwise,” he explains.

A turning point

Just weeks following the crash, on Aug. 2, 2020, Kennedy planned to take his own life. Sitting by a fire with rum in hand, he had a suicide plan. 

But Kennedy decided his life was not meant to end that night. An inner voice implored him to use his struggle to help others and to seek the help he had put off for so long. He had a mission to tackle his demons and spread awareness about PTSD.

He also made the spontaneous choice to announce a plan on his social media to walk across Canada to shed light on PTSD and reduce stigma, especially within public-safety and military communities. This commitment marked the beginning of what would become the Sea to Sea for PTSD campaign.

The next morning, Kennedy woke up to an outpouring of support from across Canada, including first responders, veterans and civilians alike who experienced similar struggles. Some became a part of the Sea to Sea team, many of whom had first-hand experience with trauma.

Stepping away from a trigger

Kennedy continued to work in law enforcement until early 2021. However, his mental health struggles became overwhelming to the point he could not bring himself to go to work. In February 2021 he made the difficult decision to leave his career.

“I wasn’t going to go on this healing journey to get to a point where I can function as society would deem as normal, just to get hurt again,” he explains.

With the support of his doctor, sergeant and family, Kennedy focused on healing and his commitment to mental health advocacy without the added risk of further trauma from front-line work.

The decision allowed Kennedy to seek more effective treatment. With the help of the Workers’ Compensation Board, he connected with trauma-informed clinicians who specialized in treating veterans and first responders. This new support helped him make huge strides in his recovery, reinforcing his commitment to advocate for those with similar struggles.

Building a team

Stepping away from the force further gave Kennedy the time and opportunity to make the Sea to Sea for PTSD campaign something special and put his team together. 

Composed of folks with military and public-safety backgrounds, along with civilians who believe in the cause, the team is a diverse one that addresses PTSD and mental health from multiple perspectives.

Through the team, Kennedy has found a personal support system and a vehicle for his message.

“We’re all just human beings that have been traumatized in some way, shape or form, and we’re all very open in speaking about it in a public setting,” explains Kennedy when discussing his team. 

Walking a bumpy road

Kennedy’s first cross-country walk under the Sea to Sea for PTSD banner began in 2022. Joined by his team, Kennedy travelled to towns and cities across Canada, speaking openly about PTSD and encouraging conversations about mental health. 

Despite good intentions, Kennedy met several bumps in the road. He encountered heavy stigma around mental health from many within military and law-enforcement circles. 

According to Kennedy, there were occasions when he spoke at events and would see attendees leave, uncomfortable with the subject matter. Other times, he would be confronted with skepticism and criticism, which he attributes to deeply ingrained stigmas surrounding mental health in military and law-enforcement realms.

Despite pushback from skeptics, Kennedy remained determined to continue the mission and the conversation. 

“There’s always going to be naysayers, there’s always going to be people that are negative towards what Sea to Sea stands for, but I’ve got to embrace the positives and keep going,” he says. 

Success and clarity along the way

Kennedy’s continued advocacy has helped others come to terms with themselves and their struggles and has helped him bring forth personal clarity.

During the summer of 2022, as he continued his walk, Kennedy realized his purpose was not tied to a uniform as he once thought, but rather to his desire to help others. This realization prompted him to embrace his advocacy work further, seeing it as his true calling.

Following the success of his first walk, which wrapped up in 2023, Kennedy and his team have continued to create awareness in communities lacking mental health resources.

Now living in Crowsnest Pass, Kennedy has felt welcomed by the community, with residents even approaching him for advice and resources. He acknowledges that smaller communities are often isolated from mental health support, but that residents of his new-found home have been encouraging and open to his campaign.

Looking further down the road

Kennedy and his team plan to once again embark on a cross-Canada journey in 2025, starting in St. John’s, N.L., and travelling west. This time around, he hopes to connect with communities missed on the first walk, focusing on remote locations with sparse mental health resources.

His vision includes not only raising awareness, but also creating a network of support in each community he visits. Through Sea to Sea for PTSD, Kennedy has turned his struggle into a nationwide campaign for change.

“We need to do this walk again, and we’re going to connect with more people. I don’t feel like the mission is over,” he says.  

His story reflects the challenges of living with PTSD, of leaving a career behind that once defined him, and the power of having a conversation with someone who is struggling with mental health.

“This isn’t just my journey. It’s about all of us coming together to help those who serve and protect, as well as anyone affected by trauma,” he says.

“Even if we only impact one person, that could be a soul saved and that to me is a good message to embrace.”

As Kennedy prepares for his 2025 journey, he encourages Canadians to join him in advocating for mental health awareness and supporting PTSD resources. 

To learn more about Sea to Sea for PTSD, or to make a donation, visit www.seatoseaforptsd.ca/home.