About

Quiet the Sirens is a feature-length documentary by Mike Bernard that follows the journeys of three firefighters as they confront and recover from the effects of PTSD. Their quests for wellness lead them to Roots to Thrive, an innovative Canadian mental health organization supporting first responders, veterans, and others living with trauma. Roots to Thrive combines group therapy, peer support, and psychedelic-assisted ketamine treatment offering new options for individuals who have not found relief through conventional care.

Through intimate, unguarded interviews, Quiet the Sirens captures each participant at a different stage of healing—documenting setbacks, breakthroughs, and the difficult process of reconnecting with family, identity, and everyday life. Their personal stories are interwoven with insights from leading clinicians and experts in trauma care and psychedelic-assisted therapy, placing individual experiences within a broader shift in how mental health treatment is evolving.

As the participants move through the program, the film expands beyond individual recovery to explore the larger conversation surrounding psychedelics in mental health—challenging stigma, examining emerging practices, and offering a more hopeful narrative for PTSD sufferers.

Quiet the Sirens was made possible with the support of TELUS Originals and Executive Producer Christina Willings.

Group of five people sitting around a table, smiling, with one person giving a thumbs-up, in a bright room with large windows.
A smiling woman with short gray hair wearing a black coat sits at a wooden table in a coffee shop. A man with glasses, a beige cap, and a gray hoodie sits on the other side of the table, with an acoustic guitar on the floor next to him. The backgroun
Group of people gathered around a campfire outdoors at night, some standing and some sitting, with a person holding a camera taking a photo.
A man in a blue uniform being interviewed or filmed in a fire station's garage, surrounded by film equipment and firefighters' gear hanging on the wall.
Four adults outdoors near a river, smiling and wearing jackets and hats.
Three people on a boat with a mountain and forested shoreline in the background, enjoying a clear day with some clouds.
Two people sitting on a couch in a cozy living room, one holding a mug and the other with a glass, near a coffee table with a laptop and books, with bookshelves, a lamp, and pictures on the wall in the background.
A person fishing with a fishing rod at a rocky riverbank during dawn or dusk, with mist rising from the water and mountains in the background.
A serene outdoor scene with tall pine trees on both sides of a foggy grassy path. Two people walk in the distance, with snow-capped mountains visible in the background under a clear blue sky.
A room decorated with colorful neon lights and tents set up on the floor, resembling a sleepover or retreat space with room dividers and wall art.
A man stands in front of a camera setup in a cozy, well-lit room with bookshelves, smiling and wearing glasses and a gray sweater with rainbow stripes.
Two smiling women stand beside a white SUV near a swampy wetland on a cloudy day, with trees in the background.
Four people in a cozy bookstore or cafe raising glasses of red wine for a toast, smiling, with bookshelves, string lights, and a mirror in the background.
Older man with gray hair and beard sitting on a chair in a warmly lit living room with wooden floors and furniture, being filmed with professional camera equipment.
A man taking a selfie in an airport with three travelers behind him, all with luggage. The travelers are looking at the luggage cart, and one woman is reaching out to touch it. The man in the foreground wears a gray beanie, patterned scarf, and beige
A man operating a camera on a boat in a scenic river with forested mountains and a partly cloudy sky.
A man fishing in a rocky river with mountains in the background, seen through a camera monitor and equipment.
Sunset over a misty mountain valley with tall pine trees and colorful sky with pink and blue clouds.
A woman is sitting on a chair in a home kitchen, being filmed during an interview or video recording. The setup includes multiple professional lighting and audio equipment, with a crew member sitting nearby observing. The kitchen has a modern design
Two people hiking on a forest trail with trees and fallen leaves.
Group of people gathered around a fire pit on a patio near a lake, with trees, boats, and mountains in the background during evening or dusk.
A handwritten menu on a notepad titled 'le Fluff' with sections for dinner ingredients, duck dishes, drinks, and dessert, dated December 10, 2023.
An elderly man with curly gray hair sits at a cluttered desk in a cozy bookstore or library. He is wearing a tan shirt and a red and dark plaid jacket. Behind him, bookshelves filled with books, framed photographs, and various decorative items are vi
Close-up of a glass of iced tea with a lemon wedge on top, on a wooden table at a restaurant. In the background, two people are sitting and talking, slightly out of focus.
Man sitting on a porch with a black cat, surrounded by filming equipment and cameras, with a white fence, trees, and houses in the background.
A man wearing a black face mask and a black shirt taking a selfie in a room with blue sound barriers and a bookshelf in the background.
People sitting and chatting in a cozy cafe with large windows and decorative art pieces, wearing winter hats and jackets.
Filming crew recording a scene in a backyard with greenery, trees, and outdoor furniture, using professional cameras and lighting equipment.
A person holding a glass of red wine while sitting on a couch, with two women in the background in a cozy wood-paneled living room, one sitting on a cushioned chair and the other on a sofa, near a brick fireplace.