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What鈥檚 the news?
, and the FirstNet Health and Wellness Coalition (FNHWC) have identified the major barriers to mental health program adoption among first responder agencies and developed five key recommendations to improve the health and wellness of public safety in the new white paper, 鈥�.鈥�
Based on lessons learned from in its first three years and feedback from emergency responders around the country, the white paper establishes tangible next steps to better implement health and wellness programs and lays the foundation for public safety legislative advocacy going forward.
What are the recommendations?
The issues facing our first responders are complex and don鈥檛 have a 鈥渙ne size fits all鈥� solution. Endorsed by more than two dozen public safety organizations and over 40 collaborators, the fjve recommendations target all levels of cultural change and are based on responses gathered from the FirstNet Needs Assessment Survey and a body of evidence-supported strategies. These include:
- Deepening leadership engagement and equipping them with the skills to help all levels of responders see value in training and lifestyle changes through leadership modeling health and wellness behaviors and regularly reinforcing the importance of these practices to their department.
- Integrating wellness education into training from the time responders are at the academy through retirement. Instead of being considered an added benefit, wellness programs need to be woven into the fabric of responders鈥� daily lives and their career progression.
- Allocating dedicated funding and resources to implement evidence-based solutions from agencies, both local and national, to create systematic changes. While grants fill a huge void in funding resources, they are not enough.
- Defining national wellness standards on evidence-based health and wellness programs and provide access to technical assistance centers to provide additional services for responders.
- Better communications between national and local first responder agencies and from leadership to share best practices to encourage health and wellness opportunities.
Why is this important?
Compared to the general population, first responders, including police, fire, emergency telecommunicators, emergency management, frontline healthcare personnel and others, experience higher rates of depression, post-traumatic stress, burnout, anxiety and other issues1 that can lead to secondary or tertiary health risks like cardiovascular disease, cancer, or disordered sleep.
- For law enforcement, there is a more than a 20-year difference in life expectancy compared to the average American male.2
- It鈥檚 estimated that 20-25% of all first responders experience post-traumatic stress.3
- Death by suicide in this group often outnumbers traditional line-of-duty deaths.4
- Nurses and other frontline healthcare personnel have long been at an increased risk of suicide than the general population.5
What is the FNWHC?
Through its work with public safety, leadership at FirstNet 鈥� the only nationwide communications network built with and for public safety 鈥� recognized the need to dedicate resources towards first responder mental health. Established by AT&T in 2020, the FNHWC brings together over two dozen national safety organizations representing more than 5.1 million first responders across disciplines like fire, police, EMS, 911 and emergency response to assess, plan, integrate and evaluate strategies and solutions that support first responder wellness.
What are people saying?
As a former critical care nurse, I have seen firsthand the impact mental health programming can have on individual responders and a department鈥檚 culture. Time, investment and collaboration between first responders, leadership and government agencies will create more resilient communities. FirstNet and the Coalition are proud to be a part of an initiative that helps our helpers and save lives.鈥� 鈥� Dr. Anna Courie, director of Responder Wellness, FirstNet Program at AT&T
With their white paper, FirstNet has captured the importance of placing the health and wellness of our nation鈥檚 first responders front and center. The FirstNet Health and Wellness Coalition has brought together stakeholders from all the first responder disciplines, helping to streamline the work of supporting those who keep us safe.鈥� 鈥� Sherri Martin, national director of Wellness Services, Fraternal Order of Police
Mental health and wellness are critically important for the future of first responders everywhere. It is imperative that we break down the stigma associated with seeking help and resources which help us build better people after trauma and struggle. Only by openly talking about these issues and creating a 鈥榥ew normal鈥� for mental health struggles will we accomplish this.鈥� 鈥� Chief Paco Balderrama, chief of police, Fresno Police Department
The Helping the Helpers white paper will greatly benefit America鈥檚 9-1-1 professionals, who are the first first responders on a scene, by creating a culture of better health and wellness.鈥� 鈥� April Heinze, director of 9-1-1 and PSAP Operations at NENA: The 9-1-1 Association
Having been involved in public safety for over thirty years, I firmly believe this is one of the most significant advancements in the overall health of first responders. I hope we continue to see growth from this project and ensure that our partners will continue to have productive careers and retirements as well.鈥� 鈥� Rich Martin, deputy chief, Castle Rock Fire and Rescue Department
Helping the Helpers is a pivotal milestone for all emergency personnel, leveraging research and data that demonstrates our need for support and creating a pathway to make critical improvements to public safety wellness.鈥� 鈥� Carrie Speranza, CEM, 2nd vice president of IAEM, director of emergency management solutions at Esri
I am extremely proud of this work to support first responders, in particular, the consideration given for their health and wellness. First responders, including nurses and other health care professionals, answer the call to communities鈥� emergencies and disasters, tirelessly protecting the public鈥檚 health and safety. This program is crucial for these brave members of society who serve on the frontlines to feel protected and supported. On behalf of ANA, we champion and recognize the FirstNet Program as a valuable resource.鈥� 鈥� Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, ANA president
The work the FNHWC does for responders is significant to the law enforcement profession as keeping officers healthy is paramount to creating safe communities. As the past president of NAWLEE, I have spoken to agencies from across the county that know this is a priority. Tools and resources will help agencies develop the best policies and implement strategies that will enhance the wellness and resiliency of responders.鈥� 鈥� Chief Shannon Trump, Indiana University Health Department of Public Safety
References
- Health: A Therapy Dog Implementation Guide. Bowling Green University.
- Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory: measuring the positive legacy of trauma. J Trauma Stress. 1996 Jul;9(3):455-71. doi: 10.1007/BF02103658. PMID: 8827649.