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Retirement can be a challenging transition for many people, especially for those who draw a great deal of purpose and identity from their work. First responders often fall into this category. Most of them choose careers as police officers, firefighters or EMS professionals, because they want to help people and serve their communities. Much of their identity derives from this strong sense of public service and the need to be readily available to those in crisis.
This issue of identity is one of a number of issues in retirement that uniquely affect first responders and can impact their mental and physical wellbeing. Just ask Dr. Sachi Ananda, Ph.D., LMHC, MCAP, who is the director of FHE Health’s specialized program for first responders, “Shatterproof FHE Health.” She says first responders often show up in mental health treatment after they retire because of various issues they may be experiencing related to the transition. In a recent interview, she laid out the various ways that retirement can introduce new mental health issues, have a mental health impact and in some cases reveal a need to seek professional treatment.