The Effects of Trauma on First Responders

Reports of natural and human-caused disasters are ever present throughout our country. We hear the stories of seemingly insurmountable challenges faced by families, neighbors, businesses, communities, and sometimes entire states or territories. The one constant we can rely on before, during, and after a disaster is the support and service given by first responders. But what do first responders need for their own recovery from traumatic events?

This issue of The Dialogue from SAMHSA’s Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) highlights the challenges first responders experience throughout all phases of disaster response—the visible and obvious and the veiled. The authors provide insight into the unique culture of the first responder community. This awareness is significant to providing effective behavioral health services in a manner that is valuable to and accepted by first responders.

What have you found to be essential to the care of your first responder team or community? Are there important lessons learned from your field experiences that could be highlighted by SAMHSA DTAC in future issues of this newsletter? Please share your experiences via email to DTAC@samhsa.hhs.gov. Selected reader comments will be printed in a future edition of The Dialogue.

Download the full issue [PDF – 1.04MB]

Issue Highlights

Staying Fit To Protect and To Serve: A Police Officer Talks About Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)A police officer shares his story about developing PTSD after being shot in the line of duty. He discusses the physical and psychological pain of PTSD while relaying the importance of knowing the signs and symptoms and the value of talking through issues, especially with others with similar experiences.

Perception Is Reality for Disaster Survivors
A rescue specialist with Massachusetts Task Force 1 (MATF-1) relates the importance of first responder training and self-care to better manage survivor reactions to disaster. Including a behavioral health professional as part of the response team is discussed as a proactive approach to fostering team resiliency.

Psychological Trauma in First Responders Following Disaster ResponseThe author discusses first responder care, as part of disaster planning, to address the unintended mental burden that can develop from long-term exposure to disaster response. Understanding the culture of the responder community is key to identifying and providing effective behavioral health support services.

How Do First Responders Experience and Cope With Trauma?The author provides a description of possible physiological and psychological responses that first responders may experience during a traumatic event. Coping mechanisms and ways to foster resilience as a first responder are also discussed.

About The Dialogue

The Dialogue, a quarterly technical assistance journal, is an arena for professionals in the disaster behavioral health field to share information, resources, trends, solutions to problems, and accomplishments. Read previous issues of The Dialogue.

The views, opinions, and content expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).