It's something we don’t often think about, but it’s something that absolutely should be on our minds. If you've ever been a patient in need of urgent care, whether through the police, fire department, EMTs, or crisis response teams, I urge you to take a moment—take the time to find out who answered your call. Which police department, fire department, EMT, or crisis unit responded to your emergency? These heroes are the ones who witness the worst of humanity, day in and day out. They hold the weight of others' suffering and respond with unwavering dedication, often without ever knowing the full impact of their actions.
What many fail to recognize is that these brave individuals rarely receive the closure they need. They face unimaginable situations, and yet, the public often doesn’t see or fully appreciate the toll this takes. I’ve heard the sentiment before, “They chose this career.” And yes, they did—but that choice should not diminish the deep respect, care, and gratitude they deserve.
The reality is staggering: 37% of first responders will attempt suicide—they are 10 times more likely than the general public to face this devastating fate. Tragically, 50% of firefighter deaths are directly linked to PTSD, stress, and the extreme exhaustion they endure in their line of work. These men and women put their lives on the line for us, and yet so many of them are left with unseen scars, battling emotional and psychological wounds without the support they desperately need.
Please, if you haven't already, read more about this issue in my post "Normalize Closure for Our First Responders" on my "Raising Addi" blog. We must make sure these selfless individuals are given the respect and care they need—because the work they do should never come at the cost of their own well-being.
Information gathered from :
https://helpforourheroes.com/first-responders-and-mental-health-issues
http://www.revivingresponders.com/originalpaper
We can help! Tracking your dispatch operator, Crisis response team, Police and EMT crew can be overwhelming and it can also be emotional. That is all normal and completely okay! If you don't know where to start, contact us and we can help you out! This is closure that you ALL need!