PTSD Awareness Month

June is PTSD National Awareness month, making this an important time to talk with your first responder teams about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In their duties, first responders often witness human suffering that can result in emotional trauma — putting them at greater risk for developing PTSD.

This condition affects not only the mental and physical health of the individual, but it can also take its toll on the performance and morale of an entire public safety department. By providing opportunities for people to talk openly about PTSD, a culture of psychological safety is encouraged. This can help to reduce the stigma of mental illness and may provide both the support and courage people need to seek help.

PTSD is not a sign of weakness, and the good news is that it can be successfully treated. Those who think they may have PTSD should be encouraged to seek diagnosis from a licensed psychologist or a psychiatrist. Once again, PTSD is treatable and does not have to define a life or end a career.

What is PTSD?
PTSD is a disorder in which a person has difficulty emotionally recovering after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event(s). Outside of the traumatic event itself, PTSD is grouped into four clusters of symptoms: intrusion/re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance symptoms, negative changes in mood and/or thought, and changes in reactivity.

Development of Symptoms

• Although medical professionals previously categorized PTSD as originating from one traumatic event, it is now recognized that continuous exposure to stressful situations — or cumulative stress — can also cause symptoms of PTSD. Examples of cumulative stress include:
• Repeated exposure to disaster, accidents, deaths, or violent acts
• Frequent need to deliver traumatic news to others
• Regular exposure to the abuse of children

What the League is Doing
Here at the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT), we know this is a very challenging time for public safety departments. Departments are facing much tighter job markets, and this makes it even more important to treat and retain high-functioning individuals.

As a way to support our members, we address PTSD and other mental health issues through web resources, online training (PATROL), Safety and Loss Control Workshops, and recently we’ve hired Public Safety Program Coordinator Lora Setter to develop, implement, and coordinate our strategies in the area of PTSD and overall public safety mental health. Lora can be reached at lsetter@lmc.org or (612) 248-9551.

One web resource currently under construction is a Public Safety Mental Health Toolbox that will be hosted on the League’s website. The toolbox will have information regarding suicide prevention, therapeutic responses to mental illness, wellness programs, and other important mental health information. More information to come about that.

Working together, we can support our valued first responders by openly talking about PTSD and providing resources that promote public safety health and wellbeing.

Upcoming Podcast with Retired Captain Dan Willis
We’re also pleased to provide a podcast featuring national speaker and author Dan Willis. Dan wrote the book, Bulletproof Spirit: The First Responder's Essential Resource for Protecting and Healing Heart and Mind. Dan’s podcast is scheduled to air later this summer, likely in August.

Up next: More COVID-19 Resources

Stay safe, and stay healthy,
Rob