Why is it so hard for first responders to come forward and ask for help when they need it?
As First Responders, it is important to prove our worth and that we can be trusted. It is important to remember that we are human and sometimes need help. We must model the behavior of asking for help and not being ashamed when we are struggling. Transcript: "Day one on the job as first responders, we are placed in a position where we have to prove ourselves and we have to prove to the people around us that we're fit for duty, that we're capable, that we're going to have their back and that they can trust us. So it's a natural human condition to struggle, to go through rough patches, to have lows. But in our world sometimes I think there's a line I remember early in my career when I was a police officer, somebody made a comment, they said, some people are meant to be the police, some people are meant to call the police. And I took that to heart. I felt really and truly that now that I was a first responder, that I had stepped over this invisible line into being that person that, you know, helps. And I didn't realize that we're not just helpers or people that need help, that we can be both, that you can be a helper, you can be an outstanding first responder, but you're human. And at some point in your life, especially in a long career, you're going to need help. So I think we're at this point now where we understand this. We see our brothers and sisters dying by suicide. We hear about people having PTSD. And what we have to do is we just have to model the behaviors that we want them to exhibit. So that means when we're struggling, we should ask for help and model that it's okay not to be okay."
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9 Answers
Dena Ali
Battalion Chief - City of Raleigh
As First Responders, it is important to prove our worth and that we can be trusted. It is important to remember that we are human and sometimes need help. We must model the behavior of asking for help and not being ashamed when we are struggling.
Donald Soranno
Investigations Subject Matter Expert
It is ok for first responders to come forward and ask for help when they need it. There is a stigma that asking for help makes them weak, but this isn't true. There are many places where they can get the help they need and they should not be afraid to reach out.
Shawn LaMar
Firefighter/Paramedic + Training Director @ Rescue Task Force Consulting Group
First Responders often feel like they need to be tough and not ask for help, which leads to not seeking help until it's too late. There are more resources available to help First Responders, but it is still a work in progress.
Dave Robertson
Deputy Chief Training - Fire
It is hard for First Responders to come forward when they need help because many are still living in the hangover of the "big tough cop" mentality, where they are expected not to talk about traumatic experiences and just suck it up. Additionally, PTSD can sneak up on people and by the time they realize they need help, it may be too late. Therefore, it is important to reach out for help immediately after a traumatic event.
Robert Verhelst
Fireman Rob | Speaker | Coach
Originally, asking for help was seen as a sign of weakness and people were reluctant to do it out of fear. However, in recent years there has been an increased awareness that it is okay to ask for help, even if it is just mental strain. Although there is still a long way to go, the culture is slowly changing and it is becoming more accepted to talk about mental health issues.
Eric McCants
Investig. Serg. of Narcotics - SWAT Team
First responders have a hard time asking for help because of the stigma that comes with it. People think that if they are not able to handle their own problems, they won't be able to help others. However, we are starting to do better when it comes to seeking help and it is important to keep working on this so that first responders can get the help they need.