With the number of line of duty deaths, suicides, stress-related illnesses, and the frequency of critical incidents experienced by police, firefighters, dispatchers, EMS workers, and other members of the emergency responder community, there is a need for acceptable therapeutic interventions that go beyond standard CISD sessions in order to address symptoms of PTSD. Many within this population experience difficulties functioning at work and/or at home as a result of their repeated involvement in critical incidents. The typical presentation of clinical symptoms includes depression, posttraumatic stress (nightmares, flashbacks, re-experiencing, avoidance), anxiety, sleep disturbance, and, sometimes, substance abuse to escape the distress. First responders are faced with sudden, unexpected events on a daily basis. What differentiates a critical incident is that it has an emotional impact sufficient to overwhelm the usual effective coping skills of an individual or a group and that causes significant psychological distress in usually healthy persons. One of the most common examples is an incident where a colleague dies, especially if there was a sense that the death could have somehow been prevented, even though it is clear that it would have been prevented if that was true. First responders are at 20% higher risk for suicide as compared to the rest of the population, and our attention to their mental well-being is critical. We have to create new ways to reach them that fit with their professional culture and preferences. Thank you to all of you who do this important work ❤️
With the number of line of duty deaths, suicides, stress-related illnesses, and the frequency of critical incidents experienced by police, firefighters, dispatchers, EMS workers, and other members of the emergency responder community, there is a need for acceptable therapeutic interventions that go beyond standard CISD sessions in order to address symptoms of PTSD. Many within this population experience difficulties functioning at work and/or at home as a result of their repeated involvement in critical incidents. The typical presentation of clinical symptoms includes depression, posttraumatic stress (nightmares, flashbacks, re-experiencing, avoidance), anxiety, sleep disturbance, and, sometimes, substance abuse to escape the distress. First responders are faced with sudden, unexpected events on a daily basis. What differentiates a critical incident is that it has an emotional impact sufficient to overwhelm the usual effective coping skills of an individual or a group and that causes significant psychological distress in usually healthy persons. One of the most common examples is an incident where a colleague dies, especially if there was a sense that the death could have somehow been prevented, even though it is clear that it would have been prevented if that was true. First responders are at 20% higher risk for suicide as compared to the rest of the population, and our attention to their mental well-being is critical. We have to create new ways to reach them that fit with their professional culture and preferences. Thank you to all of you who do this important work ❤️
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