Updated 10/30/24 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 ... Read More
Search Results for: ptsd
How Unions Support First Responders’ Substance Abuse Needs
When it comes to first responders and substance abuse, a few things are generally accepted. Primarily, first responders — a category that includes EMS workers, firefighters, police officers, military, ER doctors and more — are at higher risk for emergent mental health conditions and substance use disorders due to ... Read More
What’s an “Out-of-Body Experience” from Hallucinogens Like?
Psychedelic experiences have long been a source of inspiration for filmmakers and are woven into countless movies. One common go-to element of psychedelic experiences is visual alterations. This may include anything from vibrant, shifting colors and geometric patterns to hallucinations of objects, places, and ... Read More
Why Peer Support Is Key in First Responder Rehab
Updated on March 14, 2025 First responder peer support is crucial. While it can be rewarding, being a first responder is also one of the hardest, loneliest, and most stressful jobs around. What many people don’t know is that substance abuse and suicide occur at dramatically higher rates within first responder ... Read More
Can You Be a Police Officer With a Mental Illness?
Twenty percent of American adults are living with a mental health disorder, equating to 1 in 5 adults. This statistic reflects the fact that mental health disorders are common and nothing to be ashamed of. Mental disorders like depression, anxiety and other types of mood disorders can arise for a number of reasons. ... Read More
Stressed Out? Make the Most of Your Employer’s Resources
The U.S. workforce is burnt out, with 52% of people reporting they experience burnout due to their working conditions or the parameters of the job. When work becomes too stressful to manage, it's important to seek support to protect your mental health. Many employers offer employee benefit programs with ... Read More
The New Mental Health Crisis from Covid Isolation
The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced many changes that have impacted mental health. Loneliness was already a major health problem before the enforced isolation of quarantines and social distancing. Now, after a gradual return to pre-pandemic normalcy, there is still cause for concern that COVID-19 isolation may have ... Read More
How to Lean on Spirituality for Help in a Crisis
The nationwide lockdowns that came during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the ways people around the world connected with others, fulfilled school and work obligations and took care of their own mental health. For Philip Baldwin, faith was essential for making it through three months ... Read More
