NORTH OLMSTEAD, Ohio — The mental health of first responders is a priority in Ohio.
In 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine will launch the Ohio First Responder Recruitment, Retention, and Resiliency Program, which will provide the North Olmsted Police Department and Fire Department with a customized health education program and a part-time health coordinator. received a grant of $259,700.
“The First Responder Wellness Program utilizes federal ARPA funds provided through the Ohio Department of Public Safety,” said North Olmsted Safety Director Jennifer Schofield.
“This was an application submitted in June 2022 that we have been working on since last year. It focuses on the mental health of first responders. It also includes police, fire, EMS and dispatchers. included.”
The city partnered with University Hospital through a bidding process to provide a wellness coordinator and guest speaker on the importance of mental health awareness.
“It’s been well received by police, fire and emergency services,” she said. She said: “I heard a comment from one of our senior police officers that this was the first time he had ever heard a police officer talk about personal health.
“We were also able to partner with University Hospitals to bring the service to two fire and police stations, making it available to first responders on and off duty. ”
Compassion Behavioral Health reports that first responders are at higher risk for developing PTSD than the general population due to the demanding and unpredictable nature of their jobs.
“When I started working as a firefighter in 1985, mental health was not considered a potential problem for firefighters or police officers,” said North Olmsted Fire Chief Edward M. Shepp. “It was,” he said. “If you went to a bad fire or a bad gunfight or whatever, you just dealt with it.
“We’ve learned over the years that these events become etched in our brains like a hard drive. They never really leave, they’re always there. They might not be announced today, they won’t be announced tomorrow. However, it may be announced 30 years later and could have an impact on the mental health of our members.”
The fire chief added that he is proud that firefighters understand the importance of mental health awareness.
North Olmsted Police Chief Bob Wagner added:
“This has been a top priority for me as well as city officials. Emphasizing mental and physical health is just the right thing to do. Develop a more resilient and prepared workforce. It is beneficial for everyone to do so.”
The safety director said the initial stages include building relationships, trust and rapport with the city’s first responders.
“After doing a lot of groundwork, we are now working on more active initiatives, including working with the Hope Meadows Foundation,” she said.
The City Council is expected to approve a $30,630 contract with a Wadsworth-based nonprofit that uses equine-based psychotherapy to provide evidence-based mental health and wellness services.
“Their therapy has been proven to help individuals increase their positivity, flexibility and stress tolerance, which is critical for first responders,” she said.
“A side benefit of working with the Hope Meadows Foundation is that it is accredited by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy to provide continuing professional training credits that are required by law enforcement agencies on an annual basis.”
Schofield said city officials are already discussing continuing the effort, given that funding for the two-year Ohio First Responder Recruitment, Retention and Resiliency Program is set to expire at the end of the year. Ta.
“We focus on sustainability because it’s really important,” she said.
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