July 6, 2020
As Americans, we have grown accustomed to calling 911 when we are in trouble. We pick up the phone, talk to an operator, and fully expect first responders to appear as if by magic and save us. However, there is a darker side to this privilege. The hidden problem of what happens to the mental health of first responders when they answer calls for accidents involving kids or, god forbid, a school shooting.
The constant exposure to death and destruction takes an enormous toll on the mental health of first responders. Yet, many of them will not acknowledge their pain. If a first responder has a history of child abuse, the effects on their mental health by responding to calls for help can lead to many complications, including death by suicide.
This article will examine complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) in first responders and how their vital work harms these brave souls.
The Mental Health of First Responders
The public has ignored for far too long the mental health of those who care for and rescue them. We have overlooked the fact that they are people first, people who can become depressed and stressed like anyone else.
First responders have an image in public, and among each other that they are tough, rugged, and ready for any emergency. But, what if that paramedic, fireman, or nurse is also a survivor of childhood trauma and lives with the effects of complex post-traumatic stress disorder?
The sturdy and unbreakable façade that many of those who are on the front lines of defending our lives leave them open for ridicule should they need to admit and seek help. They need to seek advice for stress, depression, or any of the myriad other mental health problems they may face.
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