We take it for granted that if we ever find ourselves in a dire emergency, we can pick up the phone, dial 911, and be rescued from whatever our crisis may be.
And it’s true – whether faced with a fire, a car accident, a medical emergency, or fear of a violent attack, someone will be on that phone asking us for information and offering us guidance within moments, if not seconds.
Very shortly after that, one or more first responders will appear in order to assess the situation and facilitate whatever action is necessary to make us safe again.
First responders are the first people to assist at the scenes of emergencies. They include police officers, firefighters, EMTs, rescuers, deputy sheriffs, volunteer first responders, and, yes, 911 operators as well. They are the first to arrive at what is quite often the absolute worst day of someone’s life.
And they do this day in and day out, year after year. Naturally, this is going to take a toll on one’s mental health. How could it not?
Depression, substance use disorder (SUD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal ideation are more common amongst first responders than in the general population.
All of this, and yet there is still stigma attached to those who may be in need of help or support:
First responders repeatedly face unthinkable tragedy, yet since it is their chosen profession, there is an inherent culture of not asking for help when a person is struggling to come to grips with it all. Each of their peers is experiencing the same things, and the mentality is that since it is their job, they should be able to just “get on with it.”
Mental health is a topic that has steadily gained traction and awareness over the past few decades, and the stigma of asking for help is declining for much of the general population.
We still have a long way to go, however, especially for people (such as veterans) with careers in which the expectation is to maintain a certain stoicism and tolerance for tragedy and pain.
Understanding, compassion, and awareness are all necessary for continuing that forward progress. If you are a first responder yourself or feel concerned for one, here are some things to be looking out for. Asking for help may be difficult, but doing so may save a life.
The most important thing to understand about depression is that it’s not temporary sadness or moodiness, which we all experience sometimes. Depression is a serious condition that impacts both your mental and physical health and may require treatment.
Depression affects how you think, feel, and act. It can interfere with work, relationships, and day-to-day living. A depressed person will often lose interest in activities that used to give them pleasure. Some symptoms of depression include:
This is not an exhaustive list, nor does everyone with depression experience all these symptoms. If you or someone you care for have been living with 3 or more of these symptoms daily for two weeks or more, it may be time to reach out for help.
First responders are in the unique position of always being the ones people reach out to in times of crisis. They repeatedly witness terrible tragedies but may feel that their own feelings of grief or loss aren’t “justified” since they chose to be in the helping field.
This is simply not true. Just because something terrible isn’t happening directly to you doesn’t mean you won’t be affected by it. And when a person faces crisis after crisis and doesn’t have access to the proper means of processing those crises, it is only natural that emotional distress and eventually depression (or other mental health issues) may eventually set in.
A significant number of the mental health challenges we face result from unrecognized or unprocessed emotions – including depression.
“Self-medicating” is a term used for people who turn to alcohol or other drugs in order to cope with feelings and emotions that are too confusing, intense, or painful to come to face head-on.
Many people don’t even realize they’re doing this until they unsuccessfully attempt to cut down or they face some sort of negative consequence as a result of their self-medicating.
First-responders are more likely to self-medicate than the rest of the population. They’re consistently faced with high-stress situations, and it is their job to remain calm, compassionate, and productive, even in the midst of the most challenging and heart-wrenching situations.
The expectation to remain calm and collected in the face of one disaster after another can become a heavy burden, and a cold beer (or two or three) at the end of a particularly difficult day can easily become a habit.
Habits can lead to dependence, and dependence can lead to substance use disorder (SUD). People who drink for the purpose of self-medicating are much more likely to develop a dependence on their substance of choice.
Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance by first responders, but marijuana has become legalized in many states and is gaining traction as a recreational drug of choice.
Many first responders become injured on the job and require pain medication for recovery, and this can become a slippery slope. People unintentionally become addicted to prescription pain medications all the time – especially people who are suffering emotional distress in their daily lives.
If you believe that you or someone you care for may be self-medicating, some things to look out for include:
Asking for help with a substance use disorder may feel difficult, embarrassing, or shameful, even more so for first-responders. Keep in mind that many people report feeling a huge sense of relief after admitting to needing help, and it may surprise you how much support and compassion you receive upon doing so.
With the right intervention and care, it is possible not only to recover from a SUD but to thrive higher than you ever believed possible.
More than 80% of first responders are exposed to traumatic events on the job. They are regularly involved in incredibly high-stress situations, including life-threatening injuries and death. Approximately 1 in 3 first-responders develops post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the course of their career, as opposed to 1 in 5 in the general population.
It is natural to feel fearful and troubled after a traumatic event. Fear is part of the body’s “fight-or-flight” response, and it is a safeguard from putting ourselves in further danger. This feeling of fear will eventually pass as time goes by after the traumatizing event.
For some people, however, that fight-or-flight response lasts longer and may even worsen, and this can potentially lead to a diagnosis of PTSD.
Anyone can develop PTSD, but the more tragedy and trauma someone faces, the more likely they are to do so. This is why first-responders have such a higher risk of eventually developing PTSD.
Symptoms of PTSD may include but are not limited to:
Treatment for PTSD may involve talk therapy, medication, or both. Many people who have PTSD also struggle with other issues, such as substance abuse or depression and anxiety. It is important to seek out professional care in order to get the best treatment possible.
For a person exposed to multiple traumas, such as a first-responder, it is really important to develop a consistent self-care routine in order to keep track of feelings and emotions as they come up. Self-care often includes therapy or other mental health treatment modalities.
Both law enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. EMS providers are 1.39 times more likely to die by suicide than the general public.
Many first-responders consider stress to be “part of the job,” which likely contributes to these high numbers since these workers don’t feel comfortable (or safe) reaching out for the help that they need when they’re struggling with their mental health.
Suicide is not a stand-alone event; it is usually preceded by a mental disorder such as depression or PTSD. Because first-responders experience these disorders at such a disproportionate rate to the general public, it makes sense that their suicide rates would be higher as well.
Fear of repercussion prevents many first responders from seeking out treatment for their mental health. The longer they go without the proper prevention and support, the higher the likelihood that suicide will start to feel like a viable option.
Sadly, fear of repercussion may be perfectly legitimate. Mental health is a requirement for being a first responder, and people have, in fact, lost their weapons status or been remanded to “desk duty” after seeking out help for mental health challenges.
If you or someone you care for are a first responder and you feel concerned about your own or their mental health, some signs to be on the lookout for include:
Fortunately, the increasing awareness of mental health struggles is starting to make its way to our first-responders. There is more compassion and understanding than there used to be. If you or a loved one are struggling, please reach out for help as soon as possible. Your struggles are not a sign of weakness or failure. They are a sign of being human.
There is help and support out there for you, and you deserve to feel strong and healthy (mentally, emotionally, and physically) no matter what your chosen career may be. Just because you chose a helping profession doesn’t mean you aren’t deserving of a bit of help yourself.
When you’re in a high-stress job, it is easy to minimize or even disregard the toll that stress is taking on you, especially when you’re expected to take on those high levels of stress without batting an eye.
Keep in mind that you aren’t going to keep performing your job at peak efficiency if your mental health begins to slide, especially if you’re unaware of it and not doing anything to keep yourself healthy and safe. Here are some things to look for that may be signs that it’s time to reach out:
Our minds and bodies are connected, and many people, especially those who must remain calm and somewhat disconnected from the stressful situations they find themselves in, will manifest emotional troubles in their physical bodies. This can look like this:
There is absolutely no shame in experiencing any of these symptoms or any other symptoms that are not listed here. It is not a sign of weakness or failure to feel the effects of an incredibly difficult job that few people could handle.
In fact, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It means that you have the courage to make yourself a little bit vulnerable in order to fortify yourself so that you can perform your job even better, not to mention your personal and private life will become easier and more enjoyable as well.
If you do feel that your job or position may be put in jeopardy if you admit to needing help, you can do so anonymously. The more support you have, the better off you’ll be, so do try and let your family and other loved ones help and support you if you can.
Here are some resources for acquiring professional assistance without anyone needing to know:
Sometimes it’s easier to talk to peers rather than “professionals”. You may feel that no one can really emphasize or comprehend the things you’ve seen and been through. Here are some resources for peer support:
You deserve to feel the best you can, professionally and personally. If you are struggling, please know that there is no shame in that. Also, know that it doesn’t need to be this hard, and there is help and support out there. Reach out for help before things become unmanageable.
Do it for yourself, first and foremost. Do it for your family and loved ones. They want what is best for you no matter what. And do it for the public you chose to serve. You will be most effective and helpful when you are feeling strong and supported.
Behavioral Health. (2021, November 23). First Responder Center for Excellence. https://www.firstrespondercenter.org/behavioral-health/
Documenting the Traumas of First Responders. (2021, March 12). NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Frontline-Wellness/2021/Documenting-the-Traumas-of-First-Responders
Smith, P. A. (2022, March 14). Lacking Mental Health Support, First Responders Turn to Peers. Undark Magazine. https://undark.org/2022/03/15/lacking-mental-health-support-first-responders-turn-to-peers/
PTSD in First Responders. (2022, May 21). Institutes of Health. https://institutesofhealth.org/ptsd-in-first-responders/
Kelley, R. N. (2019, October 18). America’s first responders struggle with PTSD and depression. EMS1. https://www.ems1.com/ptsd/articles/americas-first-responders-struggle-with-ptsd-and-depression-LsgD4lAsb0ycVuQH/
Tiesman, H. M. (2021, April 6). Suicides Among First Responders: A Call to Action. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2021/04/06/suicides-first-responders/
Public Safety Professionals. (2020, June 7). NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Frontline-Professionals/Public-Safety-Professionals
