Coping With Overdose Fatalities: Tools for Public Health Workers

Coping With Overdose Fatalities: Tools for Public Health Workers This booklet from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health identifies steps for responders to address mental health and resilience after an overdose fatality. The resource highlights the effects of responding to the opioid epidemic, discusses processing grief after an overdose death, and includes steps to promote resilience. https://www.mass.gov/doc/coping-with-an-overdose-fatality-tools-for-public-health-workers/download?_ga=2.226249626.1482878062.1671761185-1938532586.1671761185&utm_source=SAMHSA&utm_campaign=d3c4e45d50-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_09_06_08_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-d3c4e45d50-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D Support for Public Health Workers and Health Professionals Developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this resource explores trauma-informed self-care and its importance for disaster responders. It explains symptoms of stress, stress-related disorders, and tips to cope and enhance resilience, and highlights where to go if responders need help. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/public-health-workers/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fmentalhealth%2Fstress-coping%2Fhealthcare-workers-first-responders%2Findex.html First Response: Working on the Front Lines of the Opioid Crisis Training Course This free, on-demand, 1-hour training course from the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) provides evidence-based coping strategies, exercises, and resources for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, police, and firefighters who face mental and physical stressors when responding to opioid overdose calls. The course is available for continuing education credit for EMS professionals accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education. https://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/first-responders-training?utm_source=SAMHSA&utm_campaign=d3c4e45d50-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_09_06_08_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-d3c4e45d50-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D Coping With the Overdose Crisis as a Responder In 2021, more than 106,000 people in the United States died from a drug overdose. The U.S. overdose crisis has worsened over time, as illegally produced powerful synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and stimulants have flooded the market. For many first responders, this crisis has changed their jobs, adding stressful and otherwise adverse incidents to work that is often already stressful and challenging. https://www.hhs.gov/overdose-prevention/?utm_source=SAMHSA&utm_campaign=d3c4e45d50-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_09_06_08_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-d3c4e45d50-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D The following resources provide information regarding the effects of the overdose crisis on responders, highlighting the importance of community overdose prevention, and healthcare and emergency responder-specific mental health supports.