Dr. Olivia Johnson

Taking Control: How First Responders Can Manage Organizational Stress While organizational stress in first responder professions often stems from systemic issues, individuals can take proactive steps to manage and reduce its impact on their well-being. Acknowledging that certain stressors—such as bureaucracy, scheduling, and leadership challenges—may be outside their direct control, first responders can focus on strategies that promote resilience, self-care, and advocacy. One of the most...

First responders face incredible challenges, from responding to emergencies that demand physical endurance, emotional resilience, and mental strength. However, organizational stress—the pressures from within their agencies—can be just as damaging as the traumatic events they encounter in the field. While many focus on the dangers of the job, stressors such as excessive administrative burdens, inadequate leadership, poor communication, and lack of mental health resources often contribute to...

The isolation of a job in corrections can leave many feeling out of sight and out of mind. And being out of sight and out of mind tends to allow certain things to go unaddressed. A general consensus I have noticed when talking with CO’s has been that they believe no one cares about their wellbeing and that workplace bullying and bad behavior is at an all time high. Just listening to these stories is enough to make you cry, but I have to ask: What is wrong with us that we have become so cold...