A national survey reveals first responders are struggling with mental health issues during the pandemic. By Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images
First responders reveal they are shouldering tremendous stress, especially due to the unique demands of the past year, and say they could use more positive support, according to a new, in-depth nationwide survey now underway.
The National Wellness Survey for Public Safety Personnel, which originated in Virginia and was first reported here by Changing America, received feedback from 5,000 first responders from 26 public safety agencies across the state, some of whom courageously spoke about struggles with PTSD and contemplation of suicide due to the trauma-filled demands of their jobs. Now public safety agencies from all across the U.S. are also participating in the survey, which includes responses from all branches of public safety.
Regina / 980 CJME
Feb 22, 2021 12:31 PM
They’re the heroes who deal with life’s most traumatic and dangerous scenarios, but where do the heroes go when they’re the ones who need help?
Several hundred first responders and other Public Safety Personnel (PSP) have taken advantage of a made-in-Saskatchewan online tool to address mental health needs, known as PSPNET.
The program first launched in the province in early 2020 at the University of Regina as a pilot, right before COVID-19 arrived. In September of last year, the program was expanded to Quebec.
In the first year, the university said more than 200 individuals had signed up, comprised of 160 in Saskatchewan and 41 in Quebec. More than 100 clients have finished the program.
Governor Mills Updates Maineâs Vaccine Strategy to Focus on Protecting Those Most Vulnerable to COVID-19
January 13, 2021
In conjunction with DHHS & Maine CDC, Governor Mills focuses limited vaccine supply on older Mainers and those with high-risk medical conditions who are more likely to become seriously ill or die from COVID-19
Governor Janet Mills today announced updates to Maineâs strategy for distributing its limited allocation of COVID-19 vaccines targeted toward preventing serious illness and saving the lives of Maine people.
The Governor, in consultation with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), is dedicating the limited vaccine supply to older Maine residents, beginning with those 70 and older; additional emergency service personnel such as police and firefighters; and people who support infrastructure critical to Maineâs COVID-19 response. The updated strategy also fo
you know, along our entire east and north-facing coast, you know, we have had 30 or more communities that have already gone through two very high, high tides with major coastal flooding, and we re going into a third one in about an hour and a half. so we ve seen prolonged destructive flooding across our entire coastline. it s forced, you know, thousands of people out of their homes. it s caused local officials and state public safety personnel and national guardsmen to have to rescue hundreds of people. and, you know, it is too early to tell, but it certainly looks like we re going to have a lot of homes that have been significantly damaged and a lot of infrastructure destroyed. and then when we move away from our coast, where we received, you know, in some areas 5 inches