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Surviving Post-Traumatic Stress: Resources for PTSD
The horrors public-safety providers see can create fertile ground for the development of negative sequelae. Operational stress injuries (i.e., psychological problems that result from mental or emotional trauma) can be acute or cumulative and take a variety of forms. The worst is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but there are lesser degrees of suffering and diagnosis that affect many more.
At the recent EMS World Expo, held November 9–13 in Nashville, TN, subject matter experts participated in a panel discussion on "Surviving Post Traumatic Stress." The session reviewed how to identify the signs of PTS, resources available to assist providers and proactive processes agencies can implement.
What follows is a list of resources provided by panel participant Shannon Daniel,MS, who is the quality assurance/quality improvement manager at Richmond Ambulance Authority in Richmond, VA. You can contact Shannon at sdaniel@raaems.org.
First Response Resiliency
Philip Callahan, Ph.D., EMT-P
Michael Marks, Ph.D., ABPP
North American Fire Fighter Veteran’s Network
1-888-731-FIRE (3473) 24 Hours Toll Free
www.firefighterveteran.com
Behavioral Health Resources
1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
National Suicide Prevention 1-800-273-TALK
Suicide.org (Suicide Contract)
Websites
The Sweeney Alliance
https://grievingbehindthebadgeblog.net
Trauma Intervention
Retreats
West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat
https://www.wcpr2001.org/index.html
(415) 721-9789
Brattleboro Retreat
https://www.brattlebororetreat.org
1.800.738.7328
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
Training for:
Critical Incident Stress Management/Debrief (CISM or CISD)
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Training for Crisis Intervention Training (CIT)
National Office for Suicide Prevention
https://www.nosp.ie/index.html
Training for Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Service Dogs
The Foundation for Service Dog Support
Freedom Service Dogs
https://freedomservicedogs.org
Employee Assistance Program
Check with individual employers for availability
