Mental Health And Working In The Services
When dangerous life-threatening events occur, normal people run the other way to safety. People who work in the services, always run towards it to help as many people as they can. Whether you’re a fireman, policeman, soldier or a first-responder in healthcare, you truly are an extraordinary person. Living a life that others only ever get to see in movies, you’re under a lot of pressure to get things done correctly. Lives are at stake and you play a pivotal role in saving them. But what about your mental health? The strains and stress of the job can wreak havoc on your personal life and the way you see things. It’s incredibly important that friends, family and the wider public understand how to help such extraordinary people they know in their own lives. You never know, you might end up saving theirs.
Into the fire
Firefighters work in some of the most challenging environments in the world. The immense heat of burning homes and buildings is something only they can describe. Traumatic events are not uncommon, unfortunately. Seeing people pass away before your eyes are not something that can be trained for. Since these events and experiences are not relatable to others outside of your profession, it can be difficult to talk about, even with friends and family. There are services like the Red Cross which you can reach out to. Although this is a general Christian charity, it’s also developing it’s mental health services. Various firefighters departments might also have their own dedicated mental health expert that can assist you with your concerns. Charities and organizations for firefighters can also offer you services such as counseling and therapy.
Servicing your community
Being a policeman or woman in the current climate is not easy. There are many social issues going on that have made the relations between the public and the police force, a little sketchy at times. However, the majority of society knows that the police are there to protect them. What they don’t often know is what it takes to do this. Many police officers go through traumatic events such as losing a colleague in a firearms incident, crashing and rolling a patrol car or perhaps seeing something horrible at the scene of a homicide. In national police week, there’s a focus on the mental health services and issues that first-responders are going through. The National Police Foundation is also something you must consider contacting.
Back from duty
Soldiers that are arriving back from active duty, have seen, done and been a part of things that normal people can only imagine. It’s imperative for all communities, to take the scourge of PTSD seriously and actively help soldiers that are suffering inside. Some might turn to negative ways of coping, so showing them the veteran substance abuse treatment program will give them an ‘out’ option of their current situation. A mind and body approach is taken, so soldiers and veterans can be given a holistic service, helping them to become stronger and deal with their trauma effectively.
Men and women in the services keep us safe but who cares for them? It’s paramount we do more to help these wonderful, dedicated people, regarding mental health.