Topic is mental health awareness for first responders, and finding the right clinician.
Involved in fire and EMS for over 45 years, Deputy Chief Bernie Meehan, whose comfort zone is chaos, has participated in over 400 critical incident debriefings. He was one of the paramedics responding to the Sandy Hook shooting. In an effort to cope with the effects of this tragic incident, Bernie was referred to some counselors who were not used to working with responders and not a good fit. After networking with other responders, he was able to find a responder-savvy trauma-informed therapist who was certified in EMDR.
A responder’s call for help dealing with job-related traumatic stress is considered a 911 mental health emergency by mental health professionals. First responders may still experience a stigma about talking to someone about their trauma, and often wait too long.
On this Responder Resilience episode, we speak with a true icon of emergency services in Connecticut, Deputy Fire Chief / Paramedic Bernie Meehan Jr., about Peer Support and Finding an Appropriate Clinician in the “New” Emergency Services.
Bernie explains what the culture around talking about mental health was like when he first started in EMS and the fire service. Was it discussed or was it taboo?
He gives us a historical perspective of CISM and Peer Support as a fire medic in the 1980s, compared to what it is today. Looking back on his experience; Chief Meehan has seen and learned a great deal attending hundreds of critical incident stress debriefings and peer helping sessions.
He talks about how public safety peer support has changed from “the old days” to now, and how the culture of emergency services has changed, where it’s now more accepted to ask for help.
We discuss how important is it to find a mental health professional who has experience with first responders, how to vet a therapist, how therapy can work virtually if in-person is not an option, remaining stigma around 1-on-1 therapy, and are there other options available?
We look at whether therapists can handle the responder unloading his/her trauma…and not crumble? How?
We also dive into these questions:
—What do you look for in a mental health professional for first responders?
—Why is that essential?
—Can you share some examples of post-incident cases where responders “burned through therapists” looking for responder-friendly providers?
—Can you share a personal example of seeing counselors or therapists who weren’t a good match, POST Sandy-Hook?
—How do you promote mental health to responders, and make referrals?
—What is the hardest part of that process?
—Are there many choices of responder trauma specialists?
—Can insurance be a hurdle?
—What about volunteers?
—What has your experience been getting responders to rehab?
—Where do you think we are heading for mental health for first responders?
—What does today’s “new fire department” look like—in terms of the wellness “bandwagon”: yoga in firehouse, therapeutic massages, peer support, Reiki….?
Tune in Wednesdays at 7pm ET for Responder Resilience.
Responder Resilience show is dedicated to improving the mental and physical well-being of police, fire, EMS, and dispatch personnel. Hosted by Lt. David Dachinger (Ret.), Dr. Stacy Raymond, Psy. D., and Bonnie C. Rumilly, LCSW/EMT-B, these broadcasts feature expert guests sharing vital information about wellness topics for first responders. For resilience strategies with compassion and humanity from the front lines of responder health and wellness, subscribe and watch it here:
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