First Responders Who Respond To Trauma Likely To Experience Trauma

LAKELAND, FL — Polk County first responders are putting a state grant awarded by First Lady Casey DeSantis to good use, bridging the gaps in their existing behavioral health care programs.

UCF RESTORES located on the UCF campus received a $1.4 million First Responder Regional Support Center grant to expand its peer support training services and first responder support to a 12-county region in Central Florida including Lake, Marion, Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Brevard Counties.

The first responders in the 12-county area are working with UCF RESTORES to develop or improve behavioral health plans to meet each first responder agency's unique needs.

UCF RESTORES was founded in 2011 as a nonprofit government-funded clinical research center and trauma treatment clinic for veterans and first responders suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues.

UCF Restores has developed a successful first-of-its-kind three-week intensive outpatient program that combines exposure therapy, group therapy, one-on-one therapy and emerging technology to treat veterans and first responders suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Office of Emergency Medical Services, firefighters and law enforcement officers are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty and EMS clinicians are more likely to take their lives than members of the general public.

Emergency operators are also at greater risk due to the traumatic events they encounter on a daily basis. Studies found that nearly a quarter of communications personnel experience depression and as many as 24 percent have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the NHTSA.

A study released in April 2021 titled “Suicides Among First Responders: A Call to Action” indicatesfirst responders are more likely to experience occupational stress associated with feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, suicidal behaviors and suicide attempts.

Even during routine shifts, first responders can experience stress due to the uncertainty of every situation they face. These stressors not only affect job performance but can bleed over into personal relationships, according to the study's authors.

The grant funds will be used to help develop UCF RESTORES into one of five regional support centers in Florida for first responders.

UCF RESTORES will develop help fire, emergency medical services and law enforcement personnel establish peer support programs and provide suicide prevention training for personnel.

“UCF RESTORES has a proud history of providing support to Florida’s first responders. Serving as the regional support center will allow us to reach even more first responders and their families in need,” said Dr. David Rozek, assistant professor at UCF RESTORES and director of the National Center of Excellence for First Responder Behavioral Health.

On Monday, UCF RESTORES staff held a strategic planning conference with first responders in Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties to identify resources needed to serve first responders and their families through the grant program.

During the conference, first responders received an overview of the initiative's goals before breaking into small groups to identify gaps in behavioral health services.