‘Stop being afraid to be judged’ about your reactions to on-the-job experiences

True mental toughness means not burying emotions or avoiding difficult conversations

Published on Sep 3, 2020

By Jason Patton

One of the biggest subjects being discussed over the interwebs all across the world lately is mental health, especially as it applies to first responders. A lot of the discussion has been around why we sometimes suggest that people with mental trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have a “weakness.” But how do you define weakness? 

‘Stop being afraid to be judged’ about your reactions to on-the-job experiences
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By twright
on 07 Oct 2020 6:07 PM
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Maintaining Boundaries in Recovery

Author: IAFF Center of Excellence Staff

September 1, 2020

Maintaining Boundaries in Recovery
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By twright
on 29 Sep 2020 5:22 PM
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When the Backpack is Too Full

When the Backpack Is Too Full

Published on August 10, 2020

Mark Foreman, Psy.D. Mark Foreman, Psy.D.

Co-founder at Mindful Awareness in Public Safety Training Institute (MAPSti)

Suicide of police officers, law enforcers, firefighters and other public safety workers is of real concern amongst the ranks and has been for decades. Yet the real discussion of First Responder / Public Safety Suicide remains a hidden fear. A fear not addressed nor turned toward. It often is actually turned away from.

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By maskea
on 13 Aug 2020 7:34 PM
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Self Care In Traumatic Times

Self-Care In Traumatic Times

Author: IAFF Staff

August 5, 2020

We are living in traumatic times. Whether it’s the increased spread of COVID-19, civil unrest in your community, financial instability or back-to-school uncertainty, fire service personnel are facing unprecedented levels of stress both on and off the job.

Today more than ever, daily self-care is essential for survival and a powerful buffer against traumatic stress. Prioritize these strategies for self-care today:

IAFF Center for Excellence
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By maskea
on 08 Aug 2020 5:11 AM
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How to Bend, Not Break: Building Resileince During a Pandemic

Author: IAFF Staff, June 15, 2020

Resilience is often thought of as the ability to bounce back from life’s adversities or to withstand loss or change. Given the high rate of occupational trauma, the inherent stress of the job and the toll on family life, we know that fire and EMS personnel are an incredibly resilient population.

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By maskea
on 05 Jul 2020 5:55 PM
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Covid-19 and Civil Unrest

As first responders, we are naturally exposed to a higher amount of occupational stress than the average job. Many first responders are able to effectively deal with this stress by having close relationships in the fire house. This brotherhood and sisterhood provides a bonding and social support system that is important in order to stay psychologically resilient.

Covid-19 has forced us to practice "social distancing" not only at the firehouse, but in our personal lives as well. This new practice may affect our mood and our ability to "bounce back", especially after bad calls.

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By maskea
on 10 Jun 2020 12:23 AM
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