First Responder Wellness Research

05/27/2026

For first responders, self-regulation is not just about relaxation; it is about learning how to bring the nervous system back down after repeated exposure to stress, chaos, adrenaline, and trauma.

Many first responders spend years functioning in “go mode.” Hypervigilance, tension, emotional suppression, rapid decision-making, and constant activation can become so normal that slowing down starts to feel uncomfortable.

Sometimes the body carries stress long after the call is over.

Simple regulation skills like these can help interrupt that cycle and signal safety back to the nervous system:
• lowering tension in the shoulders and jaw
• slowing the breath
• grounding in the present environment
• reconnecting with physical sensations
• naming emotions instead of burying them

These are not cures for trauma, burnout, or operational stress injuries. But they can become important tools that help responders reset, regulate, and regain awareness in difficult moments.

One thing I often remind people is that the nervous system does not always know the difference between “currently unsafe” and “used to being on alert.” Learning regulation skills can help teach the body that not every moment requires survival mode.

Sometimes the first step in healing is simply allowing yourself to slow down for a moment.

05/27/2026

Continuing this week’s spotlight on retreat and residential-style resources for first responders, I wanted to highlight After Action.

This is a **private treatment and wellness organization**, a program specifically focused on trauma recovery and mental health support for first responders, veterans, and military personnel.

One thing that stands out about their approach is the emphasis on:
• trauma-informed care
• culturally competent treatment
• operational stress and PTSD recovery
• peer connection and community
• family impact and support
• long-term wellness rather than only crisis response

Much of their messaging focuses on the reality that trauma exposure can affect far more than job performance alone — including relationships, sleep, physical health, identity, and overall wellbeing.

I also appreciate that they openly discuss the connection between mental health and operational readiness. In first responder culture, many people are more comfortable discussing performance, readiness, or functioning than discussing vulnerability directly, and I think that framing matters.

As with any private program or treatment center, people should do their own research, ask questions, and determine whether a program is the right fit for their needs and values. My goal in sharing these organizations is simply to increase awareness of available resources and continue conversations around first responder wellness.

For transparency: I do not have any personal, professional, or financial relationship with this program or the organizations I am highlighting this week.

🔗 Learn more here: [After Action Care] https://afteraction.care/

Nationally accredited mental health & addiction treatment built exclusively for first responders. Confidential. Northridge, CA.

05/26/2026

Continuing this week’s spotlight on retreat and residential-style resources for first responders, I wanted to highlight 1st Watch Wellness at Deer Hollow Recovery

This is a **private treatment and wellness program**, not a research study, but it represents another example of organizations trying to create specialized, trauma-informed care for first responders.

One thing that stands out about the program is the emphasis on:
• preventative mental health support
• confidentiality and trust
• clinicians with first responder or military backgrounds
• trauma-focused treatment
• residential and step-down levels of care
• peer connection and ongoing support

The program works directly with police and fire departments and describes services including wellness checkups, post-incident support, confidential counseling, and referrals for more intensive trauma treatment when needed.

I also appreciate that much of their messaging acknowledges something many first responders already know: repeated exposure to trauma can impact physical health, sleep, relationships, emotional wellbeing, and overall functioning over time.

As with any private treatment center or program, people should do their own research, ask questions, and determine whether a program is the right fit for their needs. I think it is important to continue highlighting resources and conversations around first responder wellness, trauma recovery, and culturally informed care.

For transparency: I do not have any personal, professional, or financial relationship with this program or the organizations I am highlighting this week. I am simply sharing resources that may be helpful to members of the first responder community.

🔗 Learn more here:
[Deer Hollow Recovery – 1st Watch Wellness] https://deerhollowrecovery.com/treatment-levels/1st-watch-wellness/

Learn how 1st Watch Wellness partners with Deer Hollow to deliver exceptional trauma care for police officers and firefighters. Call (801) 679-6669 today.

05/25/2026

*I have no personal affiliation with any of the places that I am highlighting this week*

This week I am highlighting a few retreat and residential-style programs available for first responders, and one organization that deserves attention is Boulder Crest Foundation

Boulder Crest is a nonprofit organization focused on helping veterans, military members, and first responders through programs grounded in the science of **Posttraumatic Growth (PTG)** — the idea that growth and positive change can occur alongside struggle and trauma.

One of their best-known programs is **Warrior PATHH** (Progressive and Alternative Training for Helping Heroes), a peer-delivered, non-pharmacological program that combines immersive retreat experiences with ongoing support and training. The program is offered at no cost to participants.

What I appreciate about Boulder Crest is that their approach moves beyond simply “managing symptoms.” Their programs focus heavily on:
• connection and peer support
• meaning-making after trauma
• resilience and posttraumatic growth
• rebuilding purpose and identity
• creating cultures where struggle can be discussed openly

Whether someone agrees with every aspect of the model or not, I think organizations like this are important because they expand conversations around what healing, growth, and support can look like for first responders.

If you are a first responder looking for resources, or know someone who may benefit, this may be worth exploring.

🔗 Learn more here: [Boulder Crest Foundation] https://bouldercrest.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Boulder Crest Foundation offers transformative PTG programs, free of charge to members of the military, veterans, and first responder communities, and their families.

05/24/2026

I recently came across this dissertation examining the lived experiences of first responders and the development of what the author describes as “learned resiliency.”

One thing I appreciated about this work is that it does not ignore the realities of trauma, burnout, moral injury, or stress in first responder professions — but it also explores how some responders develop growth, meaning, resilience, and perspective through those experiences over time.

The study identified several themes connected to resilience and post-traumatic growth, including:
• peer and organizational support
• connection with others
• exercise and self-care
• introspection and reflection
• training and experience
• developing meaning and purpose through adversity

A point that stood out to me was the idea that resilience is not always something people simply “have.” Often it is learned, shaped, strengthened, and influenced by experiences, support systems, and the environment around us.

The dissertation also reinforces something we continue to see across the literature:
👉 culture, leadership, peer support, and organizational response matter.

Resilience is not built in isolation.

📖 Sullivan, K. F. (2025). *Learned resiliency: Lived experiences of first responders* (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University).

05/23/2026

Research continues to show that trauma exposure does not always lead only to negative outcomes. In some first responders, resilience, meaning-making, and post-traumatic growth can also emerge alongside hardship.

One study examining firefighters found that resilience alone was not the strongest predictor of growth after trauma. Instead, *how stress was interpreted* mattered. Firefighters who were more likely to view difficult situations as challenges rather than only as threats showed greater post-traumatic growth over time.

The study also found that many firefighters reported positive changes after traumatic experiences, including:
• stronger self-perception
• greater appreciation for life
• increased optimism
• improved ability to mobilize during difficult situations
• personal growth through adversity

Importantly, this does **not** mean trauma is “good” or that suffering should be minimized. Trauma can absolutely lead to PTSD, burnout, depression, and long-term stress injuries. But this research highlights something important:
👉 growth and struggle can exist at the same time.

Another key takeaway from the study was the role of organizational culture and support. Resilience is not built in isolation. How people process stress, the support they receive, and the environment around them all matter.

📖 Ogińska-Bulik, N., & Kobylarczyk, M. (2016). *Association between resiliency and posttraumatic growth in firefighters: The role of stress appraisal.* International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 22(1), 40–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2015.1109372

05/22/2026

Burnout in first responders does not always look like someone falling apart.
Sometimes it looks like still showing up. Still answering the call. Still putting on the uniform while quietly running on empty.

For EMS, Fire, Police, Dispatch, and Corrections personnel, burnout can become so normalized that exhaustion, irritability, emotional numbness, forgetfulness, and disconnection start to feel “just part of the job.” But they are signs that your mind and body have been carrying too much for too long.

You are not weak for feeling tired.
You are human for being affected by what you see, hear, and carry.

Checking in with yourself matters. Checking in with each other matters even more.

Sometimes resilience is not pushing harder.
Sometimes resilience is recognizing when support, rest, connection, or help is needed.

Take care of yourselves and each other. The job is important, but so are the people doing it.

05/22/2026

New research published in *Asian Nursing Research* highlights an important perspective that often gets overlooked in conversations about trauma exposure in first responders:
👉 growth can occur alongside hardship.

The study focused on firefighters and developed a specialized scale to measure **post-traumatic growth** in first responders following exposure to traumatic events. The goal was not to minimize the impact of trauma, PTSD, burnout, or stress — but to better understand how some responders also experience positive psychological changes over time.

The researchers identified areas connected to post-traumatic growth such as:
• stronger relationships and connection
• greater appreciation for life
• increased personal strength
• shifts in perspective and meaning
• professional growth and resilience

One thing I appreciate about this study is that it moves beyond the idea that first responder outcomes are only negative or pathological. Trauma exposure can absolutely lead to serious mental health consequences — but human beings are also capable of adaptation, meaning-making, and growth.

Importantly, post-traumatic growth does **not** mean trauma was “good” or that suffering is required for growth. It simply recognizes that positive psychological changes can emerge through how people process and navigate difficult experiences.

This research also matters because having tools specifically designed for first responders may help researchers and clinicians better understand resilience and evaluate interventions aimed at supporting wellbeing in these professions.

📖 Ko, Y., & Ha, Y. (2025). *Post-traumatic Growth of First Responders Scale for Firefighters: Scale Development and Validation.* Asian Nursing Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anr.2025.08.002



[1]: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1976131725000957?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Post-traumatic Growth of First Responders Scale for ..."

05/21/2026

I wanted to share a recent white paper I authored through West Virginia University focused on an issue I believe we can no longer afford to treat as optional:
👉 preventative mental wellness standards for first responders.

📄 *Protecting Those Who Protect Us: A Blueprint for Mandatory Mental Wellness Standards for First Responders*
Published through the WVU Research Repository. ([researchrepository.wvu.edu][1])

This paper examines the growing body of research documenting high rates of:
• burnout
• PTSD
• depression and anxiety
• suicidality
• stigma and barriers to care across first responder professions ([researchrepository.wvu.edu][1])

One of the central arguments of the paper is that mental health support in public safety remains largely reactive instead of preventative. In many systems, support is still dependent on self-referral after someone has already reached a crisis point. ([researchrepository.wvu.edu][1])

The paper proposes a national framework focused on:
✔️ preventative wellness standards
✔️ routine mental health support
✔️ culturally informed care
✔️ reducing stigma
✔️ protecting confidentiality
✔️ treating psychological readiness as part of operational readiness ([researchrepository.wvu.edu][1])

This work is deeply personal to me — both as a counselor educator/researcher and as someone who spent over a decade working on an ambulance.

Mental wellness should not be viewed as a luxury, weakness, or afterthought in public safety. It is part of keeping responders healthy, effective, and alive.

🔗 Read the white paper here:
[WVU Research Repository White Paper](https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/3309/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)



[1]: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/3309/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "A Blueprint for Mandatory Mental Well\" by Joy Hutchinson"

05/20/2026

It has been a little while since I last shared this, but I wanted to post it again for anyone who may not have seen it previously.

Please consider taking a few moments to read, sign, and share this petition with others who support proactive approaches to first responder wellness and mental health.

Too often, support systems only become available after someone has already reached a crisis point. We need stronger conversations around prevention, early intervention, culturally informed care, confidentiality, and sustainable wellness practices within public safety professions.

I am expected to meet with legislators next month and would love to demonstrate that there is real interest and support for proactive mental wellness initiatives for first responders. Every signature helps show that these conversations matter.

🔗 Petition link:
[Read, Sign, and Share the Petition] https://c.org/GqKTxQrDbp

Thank you to everyone who continues to support this work and advocate for the well-being of the people serving our communities every day.

Protecting Those Who Protect Us: Mandatory Mental Wellness Standards for First Responders

05/20/2026

I came across this white paper and thought it was worth sharing.

This is a **white paper/report**, not a peer-reviewed journal article, but it provides a strong overview of many of the mental health challenges first responders face and the barriers that often prevent people from seeking support.

One thing the report highlights clearly is that repeated exposure to trauma is not rare in this profession — it is part of the work. Over time, that exposure can contribute to:
• PTSD
• depression
• burnout
• substance use concerns
• su***de risk
• emotional exhaustion

The paper also discusses something many responders already know firsthand:
Stigma and silence remain major barriers to care.

Several sections focus on how first responders may avoid seeking help because of concerns about judgment, appearing weak, career implications, or lack of trust in the system.

Another important point raised is that mental health is not just an individual issue - it impacts operational readiness, decision making, relationships, physical health, and long-term wellbeing.

While this is not an empirical research study, I think it does a good job pulling together existing literature, professional perspectives, and real-world concerns into one accessible document.

🔗 Read here:
[First Responder White Paper](https://dir.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/dirnvgov/content/WCS/TrainingDocs/First%20Responder%20White%20Paper_Final%20%282%29.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)