3 Ways Your Fire Department Benefits from Behavioral Checkups
When trauma strikes on a call and there is a department-wide or community-wide impact, it is normal to call in the professionals to help firefighters process what they experienced. What is less common is the implementation of a standard behavioral checkup for the department. This is an opportunity for firefighters to address early signs of psychological distress and/or issues related to cumulative trauma exposure.
Fire departments can benefit greatly from providing regular behavioral check-ins for firefighters, no matter what has happened out in the field.
1. Open Acknowledgement
When a department provides behavioral check-ins, no matter what the outcome, it sends the message that supervisors recognize that trauma comes in all shapes and sizes and that it happens regularly. Normalizing the experience of trauma symptoms can encourage firefighters who might otherwise never talk about what they are facing to give themselves permission to acknowledge what they are experiencing and consider getting help.
2. Increased Communication among Firefighters
When there are regular opportunities to check in with a behavioral therapist and discuss what has been happening on the job and off, it increases the likelihood that firefighters will talk to each other. Peer support and encouragement to connect with treatment can play an important role in a firefighter’s ability to get the help they need to make real progress in recovery. One-on-one check-ins are critical, but it can also be a good time to hold workshops on behavioral health for the entire department so everyone is working with the same information.
3. Introduction of Treatment Options
In the process of having a behavioral check-in that is department-wide, reminders of what treatment options are available as well as an introduction of new options can be seamlessly provided to firefighters. It becomes normal to have pamphlets and posters out and about that highlight the signs of a trauma disorder or substance use disorder and display phone numbers to call for assistance. When it is normal to have this information always updated and on hand, it becomes easier for firefighters in crisis — or firefighters concerned for others who are in crisis — to pick up the phone and make the connection that will help them to begin a new life in recovery.
Taking the Next Step
If it becomes clear during a behavioral checkup that it is time to move forward and get treatment, do not wait to contact American Addiction Centers. We offer a unique First Responder Lifeline Program that is for firefighters who are ready to move forward in recovery from addiction and co-occurring disorders through:
· Full evaluation and assessment to identify all disorders co-occurring with addiction
· Therapists who are trained to work with first responders
· First responder-focused treatment plans designed to address trauma-related disorders like PTSD
· Family groups that offer support and education about trauma and addiction
· Reintegration assistance
If you are ready to take the next step and connect with treatment that can help you heal, contact us at (888) 731-FIRE (3473) today to learn more about our First Responder Lifeline Program.
