Most Responders are not familiar with the stress injury model or the long-term mental, emotional, and physical impacts of occupational stress and trauma. As a result, we see shocking statistics around anxiety, depression, burnout, compassion fatigue, substance misuse, and suicidality. Oftentimes, our loved ones are also impacted.
Since 2018, ResponderStrong has been presenting this class at locations nationally. We asked our participants to share feedback after taking the course and the results are overwhelmingly positive.
When asked whether they would recommend the course to fellow responders, 95% of participants during the first two years responded “definitely yes” or “probably yes.”
This course was valuable to students because it addressed a critical, often unspoken topic: Responder stress and suicide.
See what Students shared:
“I am a veteran with two years in Iraq. In the years since I got out, I’ve lost many more soldiers to suicide than I did in the war.”
“I liked that this is being discussed at all. I have had multiple trainings in other fields in PTS, vicarious trauma, and cumulative career stress trauma and was surprised how little it’s talked about in law enforcement.”
“How staggering the statistics are (suicide, divorce, cardiac arrests). It really brought to light how much I need to pay attention to myself, my family and my coworkers.”
“Having to write down your three important things (why you wake up) then taking them away, made me realize I can be at risk if I don’t focus on them.”
“I wish I had this training earlier in my career.”
“This was obviously created by people who get the job- it’s the most relevant mental health class I’ve ever had.”
“I WISH MY FAMILY HAD BEEN HERE FOR THIS CLASS- IT EXPLAINS SO MUCH!”