Confronting the Stigma in First Responder Mental Health
By Jack Molloy, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Motorola Solutions, board member of the Motorola Solutions Foundation
First responders have to navigate demanding work schedules, exposure to trauma and high stress situations almost daily, all of which can take a significant toll on their mental health. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a particularly important recognition in the world of public safety, where depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are up to five times more common in first responders than in the general population.[1]Unfortunately, more than half of the people in this group believe seeking help for these conditions could lead to negative repercussions at work.[2]
As the son of a police officer and a career-long Motorolan, this topic resonates with me on multiple levels. Through my family and my work, I have seen first-hand the incredible strain and stress that the brave men and women in public safety bear. I recently had the opportunity to connect with the leaders of First H.E.L.P., a nonprofit organization and Motorola Solutions Foundation grant partner that works on behalf of first responders to reduce the stigma around mental health, bring awareness to the issues they face and enact necessary change. The organization is also focused on remembering first responders who lost their lives to suicide. In fact, they were one of the first to consistently track suicide data throughout the nation.
Below is my interview with First H.E.L.P. co-founder and chief executive officer, Dr. Jeffrey McGill, and co-founder and chief financial officer, Karen Solomon, on the history of their organization, the need for first responder support from public safety agencies, colleagues, friends and families and how resources can help change a difficult narrative. Conversations on first responder mental health are often difficult, but they have never been more important.
What influenced you to create/join First H.E.L.P. and how has the organization evolved since its founding?
Karen - We founded First H.E.L.P. because we saw a dire need for supporting first responder mental health. After writing Heart’s Beneath the Badge, I saw just how poorly officers and their families were treated before and after a suicide. Because Jeff and Steve had suffered trauma, I sought their advice on what could be done.Jeff and his partner, Steve Hough, were responding to an incident as task force officers in 2011, when Steve was shot three times, once in the face and twice in the leg. Jeff and I later teamed up to write a book titled, The Price They Pay, which dives into the emotional and physical sufferings of law enforcement. In writing and researching the book, we realized the lack of available support. People didn’t know that responders needed mental health help. No one was tracking officer suicides, and families of officers who lost their lives to suicide were not treated well or given benefits.
While the organization has changed and grown over the years, our mission has always remained the same. First H.E.L.P. is committed to raising awareness around suicide and mental health issues within public safety and empowering necessary change. Our work focuses on reducing the stigma around mental health by providing access to education. We are committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of first responders and supporting the families who have lost loved ones to suicide. We are advocates for first responders dealing with post-traumatic stress and other mental health conditions, by assisting them with the healing process and advocating on their behalf with legislators and policymakers to take supportive action.
Inadvertently, we have become the national leader in suicide data, and we provide a database for law enforcement to find resources, scholarships, care packages, yearly honor trips, etc. Jeff, myself and our team are doing what we can to raise awareness, help families, and make a better future.
When you look at the data around first responder mental health, the numbers are astounding. Can you talk a little bit about why the need for greater education and awareness is so important?
Jeff - First responders are oftentimes “Type A” personalities who want to be in control of everything. I run a training center for public safety, and we actually teach our officers that exact thing, to be in control. It is something the public demands of us. The problem with that philosophy is that sometimes it contributes to officers reaching their breaking point. For example, it can be very challenging to maintain control of a scene when responding to a child's death. Traumas like this are upsetting on many levels and officers may not know how to process them. Our culture believes being in control is important, and officers don't believe that they can ask for help. They think, if no one else is talking about it, why should I? Oftentimes, they are going from one trauma to another, and don’t even have a chance to stop and breathe.
I was trained to prepare for the worst. I was prepared to be shot in the line of duty. I was given training on how to deal with it, knew what the medical procedures should be, etc. But nothing can prepare you for when it actually happens. When my partner, Steve, was shot, I was thrown a curveball. I never thought I’d be standing over my friend at the hospital, hearing what could have been his last words and accepting his personal effects from the nurse. You cannot predict how your brain will react to trauma. And because of that we need to push education, we need to talk about what is going on. Officers need to know what resources and steps are available immediately after something like this happens.
What are some of the mental effects of trauma, specifically in the realm of public safety?
Jeff - Some first responders may recognize their symptoms immediately, while others may not. When I was struggling with my mental health, I experienced anxiety and had my first panic attack. It was so unfamiliar to me; I thought I was having a heart attack. I experienced sleep disturbances, anger issues and even long-term memory issues. These are all common symptoms many first responders struggle with unfortunately. The human brain does weird things in the middle of trauma, and trauma can actually change the way your brain functions over time. Suicide is a leading cause of death amongst first responders. The bad guys aren't killing us nearly as fast as we are killing ourselves.
The new generation of first responders is growing up with more awareness of mental health. They have seen it on TV and have had more open discussions. My generation, and the generations before me, did not have that. It is a really positive shift.
How has the pandemic affected first responders? Do you think it has exacerbated mental health challenges?
Karen - The riots, pandemic and the daily stressors of the job have definitely taken a toll on the mental health of first responders. One moment they were considered heroes and the next they were looked down upon. Research shows that 18 months after a significant episode is when first responders experience mental health issues. Look at how many officers are leaving their jobs due to retirement or simply because of the scrutiny they face. It’s never been like that before.
In what ways can public safety agencies, senior leaders and colleagues help reduce the stigma around mental health and support first responders dealing with the psychological effects of their work?
Jeff - Some agencies fully get it and are onboard with first responder mental health, and some are still getting there. How each agency and department deals with it is varied. For example, peer groups always worked really well for me. The ability to have conversations with peers who have been there before– and truly get it– helps deal with the trauma. Sometimes greater levels of support are needed, and agencies need to provide professional counseling. The support needs to be from someone who is culturally competent and understands law enforcement officers and their jobs. First responders see things through specific glasses, and we need someone who can understand what we do and how we think, so they can really help us.
Karen - There are so many wellness programs out there today, and agencies should look to other leaders for guidance. They should research what has already been done, see what funding is available and not feel like they need to reinvent the wheel. Oftentimes we see that chiefs will implement their programs and be the first to participate. They are very vocal about it– which is great– and they share their stories of despair to set an example. I also think having clear mental health policies in place is very important. Ensuring that there are written plans that detail how responders will receive mental health help, when they will come back to work if they take leaves of absence and that their jobs will still be there is crucial.
What is the best way to go about receiving help if you or someone you know is worried about their mental health? What steps should they take?
Jeff - We encourage first responders to create a support plan before they need it. They should have established action items laid out, along with a contact to reach out to for assistance. Today that might also include participating in a peer support group. First responders often have a difficult time trusting people outside of their profession. In the middle of trauma– if they don't already have an established relationship– it is unlikely they will speak to someone. Having a chaplain’s phone number in their cell phone, for example, is a great place to start. That way, they can build a rapport over time, and it will be easier to call them in moments of need. In addition, it is important that officers not lose sight of what they did before they experienced trauma or became a first responder. We tell them to keep doing the things that bring them joy, spend time with friends and do hobbies that fulfill them to help maintain physical and mental health.
Karen - While First H.E.L.P. is not a hotline, we connect first responders with resources they need and people who are trained to help them.
Why are donations from individual donors, corporate foundations, including the Motorola Solutions Foundation, and other organizations so important for First H.E.L.P.?
Karen - During the first few years, we survived on a very tight budget. Corporate donations opened many doors for us, including the number of people we serve and the levels of support we are able to provide. Motorola Solutions Foundation was one of the first corporations to support us through its annual grant program and that has significantly impacted our mission. The monetary donations not only help us destigmatize mental health and support officers and their families, but also bring awareness through public acknowledgement that mental health is an issue and needs to be addressed.
If you are a public safety agency or individual looking for mental health support, consider contacting First H.E.L.P. at https://1sthelp.org/.
If you are interested in learning more about the Motorola Solutions Foundation and its support of mental health and other first responder programs, visit motorolasolutions.com/foundation-annual-grants.
[1]Kennedy-Hansen, Holly. “First Responder Mental Health and Wellness: Kaiser Permanente.” Kaiser Permanente, November 18, 2020. https://business.kaiserpermanente.org/insights/mental-health-workplace/first-responder-support.
[2] Kennedy-Hansen, Holly. “First Responder Mental Health and Wellness: Kaiser Permanente.” Kaiser Permanente, November 18, 2020. https://business.kaiserpermanente.org/insights/mental-health-workplace/first-responder-support.
