National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week acknowledges America’s public safety telecommunicators for their service
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW) spotlights public safety telecommunicators for their service. Held annually the second week in April, NPSTW is America's chance to honor and thank telecommunications personnel for serving communities and their residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
As we extend our appreciation to emergency dispatchers and telecommunications operator courageously committed to serving the public 24/7, we must acknowledge the heart-wrenching statistics of suicide and self-harm that encompasses all first responders including emergency dispatchers and telecommunications operator along with firefighters, law enforcement personnel and emergency medical services personnel.
Studies show that within the last five years, more than 1,200 of America’s first responders committed suicide. Twenty percent of those men and women were Floridians.
In recent years, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control and Prevention (CDC), noted that more first responders die from suicide than in the line of duty. Describing suicide as a complex health issue complicated by socio-demographic, medical, economic and occupational factors, the CDC underscored that because first responders are under acute and chronic occupational stress, they’re at a greater risk for anxiety, depression, substance use and abuse, and post-traumatic stress.
LSF Health Systems (LSF), a state-funded, nonprofit behavioral health service, is leading the charge in Northeast and Northern Central Florida to address the mental health service needs of first responders.
Under the direction of Dr. Christine Cauffield, LSF’s First Responder Peer Support Program provides confidential, free mental health services to current and former first responders. Services, provided by contracted behavioral health care providers, include prevention, intervention, treatment, and care coordination. The groundbreaking program, now in its second year, also serves family members of current or former first responders, even if the first responders are incapable of helping themselves.
According to Caufield, the program is working beyond expectations.
“We’ve served over 1400 first responders in the last two years,” she said. “Through an aggressive messaging and marketing campaign, we've had 1.5 million impressions with over one-million first responders calling the 211 call center seeking information and referral services.”
Funded by the Florida Department of Children and Families, current and former first responders and members of the military are trained as peer specialists who listen, offer support, and identify resources available to those in need. In addition to boots on the ground experience, peer support specialists are trained in stress management; suicide assessment; burnout; dependency abuse/addictive behavior; substance abuse screenings; and self-care.
Those in need simply dial 211 and identify themselves as a current or former first responder or a family member. Callers are screened and connected with a trained first responder peer specialist within 48 hours. Peer specialists work one on one through a long-term plan that includes follow-up check ins.
Cauffield explained that chronic, cumulative trauma becomes encoded within our DNA, thus affecting humans physically, emotionally and spiritually.
“Peer specialists help first responders - and their families - deal with chronic responsive trauma,” she continued. “This First Responder Peer Support Program is about sharing with those who know. And knowledge is power.”
Cauffield added that often first responders struggle in silence, fearful of appearing weak before their colleagues, cognizant that “this is what I signed up for.”
“Privacy and connection are so important,” she said. “Under the program, first responders speak to someone who gets it without fear of a co-worker finding out. LSF Health Systems designed this program to break down the stigma surrounding mental health. Staying fit for duty, means caring for one’s mental and emotional health too. Consider it preventative maintenance, just like letting some pressure out of a gauge.”
The program is available to first responders and their families from Alachua; Baker; Bradford; Clay; Columbia; Dixie; Duval; Flagler; Gilchrist; Hamilton; Lafayette; Levy; Madison; Nassau; Putnam; Suwannee; St. Johns; Taylor; Union; and Volusia counties.
Cauffield acknowledged first lady Casey DeSantis for spearheading the grant given to LSF Health Systems while professing her own commitment to the program. Cauffield said that First Responder Peer Support has been so successful, LSF Health has received additional funding for year number three.
“The First Responder Peer Support Program allows those dedicated to the call of duty stay fit for duty,” she said. "These brave men and women service us during traumatic moments. It’s important to let them know that we are here for them as well.
“I encourage all first responders to reach out for help," she concluded. "First responders deserve to live a hope-filled life."
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This is the first of a two-part series dedicated to National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week | CISA. The second installment will be featured tomorrow.
This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week acknowledges America’s public safety telecommunicators for their service
