Wednesday, February 5, 2014

PTSD and First Responders

Here is the link to a recent article published in the Toronto news about the rate of PTSD in first responders.

Emergency workers suffer PTSD

 http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/emergency-workers-twice-as-likely-to-suffer-from-ptsd-1.1660817?goback=.gde_2060355_member_5834655719219036162

The stigma associated with receiving mental health services certainly inhibits first responders from reaching out.

What are you doing in your community to help decrease this stigma? Are there any programs or trainings that help to decrease this stigma and raise the awareness for the need of appropriate mental health services that you are aware of or available in your area?
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4 comments:

  1. UnknownFebruary 9, 2014 at 11:59 AM

    I work with a WA State non-profit organization called Code 4 Northwest (www.code4nw.org). Code 4 NW is a 24/7 crisis and referral hotline for first responders and other public safety personnel and their families. (We are modeled off of Safe Call Now [www.safecallnow.org] which is a national hotline for public safety. I also work with Safe Call Now.). We also provide training about mental health, particularly PTSD and substance abuse, to the WA State Criminal Justice Training Center (the State police academy) to new recruits and their families and experienced law enforcement officers. Code 4 NW and Safe Call Now are committed to helping public safety personnel understand the toll their careers take of them and getting them the care they need. I am a retired police lieutenant and am currently a mental health counselor - EMDR, level 2 trained. I am involved in training the volunteers of our organization. Our goal is to reach out to the public safety community and other interested community members to educate them about the impact of trauma and to reduce the stigma of getting help!
    Sandy Tudor, MA, LMHCA
    Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate
    www.sandytudor.com
    206-914-0426 (cell)
    888-972-8305 (fax)

    Aquiline Counseling and Training Services
    Amen Clinics Affiliate
    Code 4 Northwest Training Coordinator

    304 Main Ave S. #301
    Renton, WA 98057

    ReplyDelete
  2. Katelyn E. Baxter-Musser, LCSWFebruary 13, 2014 at 9:24 PM

    HI Sandy,

    Thank you so much for your post and letting us know about your program. It sounds like something that is really effective. I wish that every area had this something similar.

    Thank you for the resource to www.safecallnow.org I was unaware of this program!

    Katelyn Baxter-Musser, LCSW

    ReplyDelete
  3. Vickie L KaveFebruary 28, 2016 at 2:26 PM

    I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker certified in EMDR. I reside in a rural mountainous county in Virginia which also has significant poverty. Our Sheriff's Department has asked me to voluntarily help to develop mental health services for the department and to provide counseling (insurance reimbursement)for our officers. I have 20 years of experience working with trauma. However, I do not have any experience with patrol officers. I would very appreciate clinical recommendations and EMDR protocols in order to help me provide the best care for our officers.
    Sincerely Yours,
    Vickie L. Kave

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownJanuary 15, 2019 at 9:51 AM

    I am currently working with a police officer that is struggling with PTSD. What I am finding effective is using the EMD process to help with current day to day work struggles.

    ReplyDelete

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