Last week, I watched the movie American Sniper for the first time and
realized why I had not when it was first released at theaters across the
country. The plot revolved around the
war time service of Navy Seal Chris Kyle who was one of the most prolific
snipers in military history. The
majority of the scenes showed graphic images of war as well as Kyle’s battle
with PTSD (a topic that resonates strongly with me). By the movie’s account, Kyle- an American patriot
who believed strongly in the defense of our country, overcame his behavioral
health struggles by helping other veterans-in-kind. Chris Kyle was killed by one of these
veterans (he was assisting) on a shooting range in 2013. The oath of enlistment that he took came with
a heavy weight attached- something that is shared by all public servants alike
(fire, police, emergency dispatcher, et al).
In general, as a public servant you are
asked to swear an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the
state in which you reside, the municipal ordinances of your village, as well as
to faithfully discharged the duties of the position to which you are employed. Prior to the actual date of employment, the
prospective public servant is told (at an orientation) all about the work
schedule, hours, benefits, and time off that comes with the job, but never about
the toll exacted on the mind, body, and spirit by the weight of said oath. Let me show you what I mean.
When it comes to emergency dispatchers, I
have always told the ones I work with that they are the life line to the police
officers and fire fighters who respond to the calls for assistance. From a
behavioral health aspect, dispatchers are often left behind when it comes to
available resources that specifically deal with their profession. Imagine answering the 911 call to find a
panic-stricken citizen screaming for help because someone is breaking into
his/her home to do them bodily harm. The
dispatcher must multi-task by staying with the caller, as well as sending the
appropriate agency to mitigate the situation.
The minutes must seem like hours as the dispatcher “internally prays”
that help arrives before a tragedy occurs.
There is not a doubt in my mind that the stress response is heightened,
and without relief can become chronic.
This professional is equally vulnerable to PTSD as their counterparts on
the street.
Police officers and firefighters (local,
county, state, and federal) often work in concert at emergency scenes that make
them prone to behavioral health issues as well.
Exposure to homicides, suicides, domestic violence, psychiatric calls,
and communicable diseases (to name a few) can wreak havoc with either
profession. Additionally, these public
servants may spend extended time at an incident, all the while exposed to the
environmental elements of the different seasons of the year. Both physical and psychological fatigue
(susceptibility to PTSD) can set in as the weight of the oath takes its toll
from many years on the job. For some,
years on the job may be only one or two when these injuries occur.
Public servants- military, fire, police,
and dispatch all swear to uphold the laws of this land and protect the public
(country) at-large. The life of the
public servant is always about the unknown with each incident, and as a result
is accompanied by a cumulative emotional exhaustion. Many will never admit they need help with
behavioral health housekeeping (so to speak), because asking for help is seen
as a sign of weakness. Therefore, I ask
all of my fellow servants to seek help either in the form of peer support,
counseling, or group therapy as a way to maintain balance. Ask for assistance as this is not a sign of
weakness, but rather a show of courage.
Reach out before this weight becomes too heavy.
In health and wellness,
Tim
Available Resources
Web
Please check the state
and/or country in which you reside for further resources. The above are just a couple to get you started
on the road to wellness, and I ask all who read this to please add to this list
in the comments section of the blog.
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