Support within the 911 Dispatch Subculture

More and more, I’m seeing stories focusing on first responders serving first responders, especially around mental wellness. Groups are popping up all over social media, most closed for obvious reasons. In mental health circles, practitioners are discussing the importance of people who have walked the walk working with police, firefighters and EMTs. In my view, it’s very similar to the military culture. Vets want to work with vets. We speak the same language. We understand the unique challenges. We’ve had many of the same experiences. Dr. Ellen Kirschman has understood this concept for first responders for decades. She even co-wrote, Counseling Cops: What Clinicians Need to Know in 2014.

First responders have a distinct culture. We have a “way of life” that is identified by knowledge, beliefs and behaviors. Most important, it is passed down from generation to generation. Since 911 Dispatchers are first responders, this applies to us as well. In addition to many of the same knowledge, beliefs and behaviors that our field brothers and sisters have, we have some unique to us. We have a subculture. For example, part of our subculture is that most of us do not like talking on the phone. We avoid it like the plaque. Another aspect is our way of communicating even when we are not at work. We often give very blunt, directive answers and we get very impatient if someone is telling us a long, drawn-out story. We want to hear and speak only the facts. Because of our subculture, when we need to reach out for support, such as with mental health we want to work with someone who understands us. Someone who will help us sort through and understand what we are experiencing. Each day as research into the affects of the work of first responders becomes more robust and wide-spread, we learn more about what ails us. We also learn more about what makes us resilient and how to care for ourselves. Although most of this work is still focused on field responders, more discussions about the impact on 911 Dispatchers are happening. The #IAM911 movement, along with the continual fights to be recategorized as first responders is putting our struggles front and center. This is a very, very good thing. But what does this mean and what can we go about getting support right now?

Mental Wellness

The first and most important step is understanding your daily experiences through a biopsychosocial and a strengths-based lens. (I know my social work is showing.) This understanding doesn’t have to happen in a clinician’s office. In fact, we always know ourselves better than any other third party ever will, especially if they have never been a first responder. In layman’s terms, it breaks down like this:

Bio-Our work affects our biology, our physical being. This extends all the way to the chemical level. Read any study on the affects of stress and/or hypervigilance and it’s all about the hormones released, including dopamine, epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine and cortisol. Along with the chemical responses, we also have to take into consideration our poor eating, sedentary and sleep-deprived existence. All of these are causing disease, killing us slowly.

Psycho-Our work also affects our psychological state. Our cognitive development (how we see the world), our coping styles (some healthy, many not) and our personality traits are all part of this dimension.

Social-Anyone who has ever been into a communications center knows that there is a unique social environment at work there. The often chaotic work along with a bunch of Type A, mostly female workers creates that unique environment. Also, unfortunately, outside of work, our job often leads to increasing friendships with other first responders and decreasing time spent with anyone outside the field. We lose exposure to a diversity of ideas and experiences. After all, most people do not work with the maddest, baddest and saddest all day, every day. Other people get to experience people who are not in crisis.

Strengths-based-This one is super important especially if we don’t want to lose hope and just keep spiraling down into a pit of physical ailments, psychological struggles and social isolation. Basically what this means is we see ourselves as resilient, self-determined and strong. Although not the same, we each have factors in our lives that help us stay balanced and healthy. What are your assets? Do you have good physical health? Is your self-talk generally positive? Do you have personal supports, such as family, friends, and/or spiritual community? Identifying what our strengths are prior to the times we are feeling drained and beaten will allow us to look at that list and pull from it when those times inevitably occur.

Seeking Support

When you determine that you could use some outside support, first off let me tell you, “Right on!” An even bigger high five if you do so before you are at your wit’s end. After all we don’t take our car in for routine maintenance after we blow the engine. Check with your department to see what’s in place for you. Is there EAP or a peer support program? There are some good resources on-line as well, including the First Responder Support Network (FRSN), Blue H.E.L.P. and The Code Green Campaign. Each of these provides the numbers to support hotlines, as well as, reading material and mental health   professionals specializing in first responders. All of these resources are fantastic, but at the same time sometimes we don’t need something at that level. We just want to talk with someone who understands what we go through. Or we are dealing with a personal issue, such as alcohol recovery and just want our support person to be part of our culture. Reach out. Ask around. Find someone who will be able to understand the challenges of being a 911 Dispatcher and how those play out in our daily lives and struggles. Whatever you do, make sure to take care of yourself. You deserve to be supported and feel your best. Thankfully, there are a lot of ways to do that.