Addressing Trauma: Mental Health Strategies and Support for First Responders
E11evate
In this community, we face challenges together, prioritizing resilience in our professional and personal lives. It's a space for first responders to learn, share experiences, and find strategies for managing pressures.
Kyle Goodknight

Addressing Trauma: Mental Health Strategies and Support for First Responders

S2 E23 • Dec 24, 2024 • 45 mins

In this episode, Kyle Goodknight and Dr. Doug Gallo explore the impact of trauma on clinicians and the need for mental health resources. They discuss the evolution of support in departments, challenges in finding specialized therapists for first responders, and the importance of normalizing mental health discussions. Dr. Gallo shares his EMS journey, touching on critical incident stress debriefing and the integration of mental health education. Topics include cumulative trauma, empathy, suicide risks, compassion fatigue, burnout, retention issues, the Great Resignation, and rural EMS challenges, highlighting the integration of mental health into overall well-being.

Key Points

  • First responders have a significantly higher exposure to traumatic events compared to the general population, making mental health support crucial to prevent burnout and ensure effective patient care.
  • Lack of accessible and trusted mental health resources remains a critical challenge for first responders, often leaving them unsure of where to turn in moments of crisis.
  • Normalizing mental health conversations within the professional environment can help mitigate the stigma and encourage early intervention, ultimately improving retention and reducing the risk of severe mental health issues.
Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyListen on YouTube
- / -