Addressing Trauma: Mental Health Strategies and Support for First Responders

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.