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Mental health disorders and addiction are some of the most pressing issues facing the public health system today. Some people are at a greater risk of developing these conditions than others, such as individuals who are exposed to traumatic events. This includes first responders; the first people to show up at the scene of a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or serious crime. Most people cannot fathom what first responders see on a daily basis, therefore it’s common for fir

My entire adult life was spent as a United States federal agent confronting violence and predators on behalf of the good and innocent people in the communities I served; people who simply wanted to live their lives peacefully and safely. I wanted to stand up for those who couldn’t or wouldn’t do that for themselves. My fourth day on the job I was shot by a suspect. The bullet entered my back, traveled through my lung missing my heart by millimeters and exited my chest. I h

Something that is not recognized by many in the civilian world is that our First Responders as a whole are more psychologically healthy than the general population at the time of hiring. How can I say this? Well, very few careers require the psychological screening and assessment that First Responders have to pass in order to obtain their job. In doing such a screening, the hope is to protect the public from someone who is unsafe, but the hidden benefit is to hopefully protec