Addressing Trauma: Mental Health Strategies and Support for First Responders

In this episode, Kyle Goodknight and Dr. Doug Gallo explore the impact of trauma on clinicians and the need for mental health resources. They discuss the evolution of support in departments, challenges in finding specialized therapists for first responders, and the importance of normalizing mental health discussions. Dr. Gallo shares his EMS journey, touching on critical incident stress debriefing and the integration of mental health education. Topics include cumulative trauma, empathy, suicide risks, compassion fatigue, burnout, retention issues, the Great Resignation, and rural EMS challenges, highlighting the integration of mental health into overall well-being.

https://firefightermentalhealth.org/

First responders have a significantly higher exposure to traumatic events compared to the general population, making mental health support crucial to prevent burnout and ensure effective patient care.
Lack of accessible and trusted mental health resources remains a critical challenge for first responders, often leaving them unsure of where to turn in moments of crisis.
Normalizing mental health conversations within the professional environment can help mitigate the stigma and encourage early intervention, ultimately improving retention and reducing the risk of severe mental health issues.

(0:00) Introduction and The Impact of Trauma on Clinicians
(0:18) Encouraging Audience Engagement and Guest Background
(1:31) Importance of Provider Mental Health and Resource Needs
(3:41) Evolution of Mental Health Support in Departments
(5:11) Challenges and Need for Specialized Therapists for First Responders
(7:39) Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and Its Effectiveness
(9:09) Code Words for Seeking Help and Normalizing Mental Health Conversations
(11:03) Dr. Gallo’s EMS Journey and Integrating Mental Health Education
(13:40) Cumulative Trauma and Empathy in Clinical Care
(16:14) Data-Driven Support and Traumatic Event Frequency for First Responders
(17:42) Suicide Risks and Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms
(19:01) Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Legal Implications
(22:07) Empathy, Humanizing Patients, and Addressing Retention Issues
(25:30) The Great Resignation, Burnout, and Rural EMS Challenges
(29:38) Integrating Mental Health into Overall Health
(29:56) Sponsor: Daniel Packard's Funky 5
(32:25) Identifying and Addressing Mental Health Challenges with Peer Support
(39:26) Resources for Mental Health Crises and Concluding Thoughts