If you listened to our episodes on First Responders & Suicide, Part I and Part II , you heard us talk about the difficult behavioral health challenges facing firefighters, police, and EMS workers. In this blog we will discuss mental health resources to assist First Responders in coping with those challenges.
Employee Assistance Programs
Most First Responders are employees of local or state governments (e.g., counties, cities, states). Typically, they have access to Employee Assistance Programs (better known as EAP’s) through their employer. EAP’s utilize mostly Master’s level mental health professionals to aid employees with work-related problems. Typically, there is no charge for those services, and insurance is not involved. There may be limits, however, on how much service (e.g., number of sessions) that can be provided. EAP counselors, though, are not specialized in providing care to First Responders. They must provide services to all employees of the governmental body (e.g., administrative staff, other departments). First Responders referred to an EAP should ask to see a counselor who has previously worked with fire, police, or EMS.
Psychologists Employed by the Agency
Most large police departments have psychologists on staff who provide specialized care to law enforcement personnel. In contrast, though, only a couple of large fire departments have hired psychologists to care for their members. The history of police psychology goes back 50 years or more, but the fire and EMS services have been slower to provide resources for First Responders. Some police and fire departments share mental health professionals. It should be noted, though, that the needs and subcultures of these two groups are far from identical. It is difficult for mental health professionals to address the disparate needs of the two groups. Other departments contract with local mental health providers on an “as needed” basis. This occasional use, though, may limit the effectiveness of the care. First Responders need to be seen by someone who is familiar with their experience and lifestyle.
Union Resources
Unions also provide behavioral health resources for First Responders. The International Association of Firefighters, for example, has the Center of Excellence which specializes in the treatment of substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues of firefighters. Similarly, the Fraternal Order of Police partnered with FHE Behavioral Health’s “Shatterproof Program” to provide specialized care to law enforcement personnel. First Responders seeking behavioral health resources should speak with local union representatives to determine if they can assist in connecting them with such programs. In addition, union leadership may be aware of local providers who have demonstrated expertise in helping First Responders.
Other Providers
Often, local mental health professionals are the only providers available to First Responders. While it is helpful to reduce your costs by choosing a provider on your insurance, a more important criteria is to find a professional who has previously seen First Responders. Ask about the clinician’s experience in working with fire, police, or EMS. Look for someone who has some familiarity with First Responder culture. A background in dealing with trauma and PTSD is a plus. In some areas, behavioral health hospitals offer specialized behavioral health programs for First Responders. These programs typically serve police, fire, and veterans. The staff at such programs are experienced in treating First Responders, and, in some cases, have previously served in the military, law enforcement, EMS, or the Fire Service. A national program well known for its specialized mental health and addiction treatment of First Responders is Rosecrance Florian.
In Closing...
Behavioral health resources for First Responders are limited. To make matters worse, the average clinician knows little of what it is like to serve as a First Responder. Clinicians who want to provide care to First Responders should first seek to improve their understanding of their culture. If you are a First Responder seeking behavioral health care, ask the provider about their prior experience in helping other First Responders. Use recommendations from your union and fellow First Responders to identify clinicians or programs that have been shown to understand the lives and challenges of First Responders.