First responders have very difficult jobs. They rush into situations that everyone else runs away from. That can cause a lot of problems, like PTSD and higher risks of self-harm or suicidal behavior. It is important to prioritize mental health for those first responders for several reasons.

1. Normalization

One reason to prioritize mental health for anyone is that it will normalize searching out mental health treatment. Seeking mental health treatment has a stigma to it. It makes it hard for people who need the help to seek out that help. However, if seeking out mental health treatment is shown to be normal and not anything to be ashamed of, it will make it easier for first responders to get the help they need.

2. Suicide Prevention

The suicide rates among first responders, frontline medical workers, and veterans are higher than among the rest of the population. Not only is suicide a tragic loss of a loved one, but it has a domino effect on the rest of that person’s friends and family. Be proactive by prioritizing mental health, and this will help show first responders they aren’t alone which will help lower suicide rates.

3. Work/Life Balance

Maintaining a good work/life balance can be difficult for anyone, but first responders often have a harder time with it. That’s because they can work very long hours and have a hard time separating out what they are feeling and leaving the work feelings at work. Mental health treatment can help first responders learn tools that can help them separate out those feelings.

4. Support

Support groups made up of first responders with mental health issues can be very supportive to other first responders with the same issues. Support groups can be helpful because the members are talking to people who are in the same place they are and who understand issues that non-first responders wouldn’t.

5. Reducing Burnout

Burnout can happen when people have to function under high levels of stress for a long time. Long hours, stressful jobs, and the inability to separate work from life can cause people to feel like they are stretched thin, burnt out, and feel like they can’t continue. It can also cause higher work absenteeism and lower work quality. Mental health professionals can help people develop strategies to deal with those feelings.

6. Build Resilience

Resilience means that people can bounce back from problems and conflicts more easily. First responders are dealing with horrible situations, including the suffering and/or deaths of others. That can leave a mark on a person. Visiting a mental health professional can allow a first responder to tell someone about their feelings and learn how to handle them better.

First responders are the people who rush into danger to help everyone else. They see people on their worst days, and that can cause the first responders to have PTSD and other mental health issues. Making mental health a priority can help improve the lives of the first responders, and help them handle all the things that they see while they are at work.

Published by: Nelly Chavez