If you’ve ever been to the funeral of a first responder who died by suicide, you know the anguish of those less behind. How could someone be so hopeless to want to extinguish their life? What signs did we miss? What more could we have done as an organization or as a friend or colleague?

The critical issue of mental health challenges and suicide was a growing problem before the pandemic; in 2019, more than 47,000 people died by suicide. Now it’s even more urgent, so much so that a special suicide prevention hotline and number was created by Congress and the FCC. Due to go into effect July 2022, anyone can call 988 and be connected to one of 168 specialized centers with counselors trained to help with depression or suicidal thoughts. It’s been called “911 for the brain.”

Health care and public safety organizations have not been immune, with far too many individuals, families and organizations experiencing one of these tragedies for themselves. And for every suicide that we know about, there are countless other individuals suffering, struggling and seeing their careers end or their families fall apart.

This session brings together a unique combination of experience and expertise to give you the understanding, knowledge and tools to make a difference in your organization. You’ll learn:

• How to create a culture that challenges the stigma around asking for help
• What tools you can give your staff to assess and approach people in need
• How the 988 number will work and what that means for EMS and public safety
• What it feels like to suffer from post-traumatic stress injury and how to recognize it in others
• How cutting-edge therapies like EMDR can help individuals
• How your organization can be proactive in creating resilience

Jim Marshall, PhD, facilitator for the session, is co-founder of the 911 Training Institute and is licensed mental health professional deeply embedded in the emergency care industry. His deep knowledge around PTSD and mental health in the first responder population is matched by his skills as a presenter and facilitator. Other faculty include Kate Elkins with the NHTSA Office of EMS and the National 911 Program, who has more than 25 years of EMS experience and is a long-time advocate for mental health awareness, and Ginny Renkiewicz, PhD, an award-winning EMS researcher who specializes in PTSD issues.