More police officers and firefighters died by suicide in 2017 than died in the line of duty, according to research commissioned by the Ruderman Family Foundation. A New Jersey task force found that corrections officers present an even higher suicide risk. More than 20 veterans and active military members, on average, take their own lives daily, the Veterans Administration reports. These individuals all have two things in common: hazardous duties and high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is associated with an increased risk of suicide.
In past years, PTSD and other behavioral health issues among first responders frequently went undiagnosed and untreated. But First Responder Treatment Services, a first-of-its-kind inpatient offering by Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health, is helping to change that.
“Firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement and corrections officers, members of the military — these are brave, dedicated people,” said Michael Bizzarro, PhD, LCSW, a police and military veteran who serves as director of clinical services for first responders. “Yet the nature of their jobs makes them susceptible to PTSD, depression and substance abuse.”
Patients entering First Responder Treatment Services undergo a comprehensive evaluation of medical, mental health and addiction issues and receive treatment individualized to their needs. Princeton House has treated more than 1,000 first responders since the service launched in 2013.
“First responders come face to face with the kind of tragedies we only hear about on the news,” said Richard Wohl, president of Princeton House. Indeed, consider the mental and emotional toll on firefighters who battled wildfires in California – some working 24 hours straight… or longer.”
“That exposure can lead to lasting trauma,” Wohl continued. “Our program is designed to help them get healthy and get back to their life-saving work.”
The first responder treatment team provides training to some law enforcement officers in New Jersey to help manage the stress and trauma of the job and to recognize when they or their colleagues might need help. Many first responders are unlikely to admit they are having issues, let alone seek professional help for them, Bizzarro noted. “We are working to change an entire culture,” he said. “Recognizing when you need help and then asking for it is never a sign of weakness. It’s actually a show of strength.”