The NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) have recently released a new online training for mental health professionals who currently work with or are considering working with first responders such as 911 dispatchers, law enforcement, emergency medical technicians and firefighters. The First Responder Mental Health and Cultural Awareness Training features content on first responder culture, mental health challenges and barriers that may prevent first responders from seeking mental health treatment. The training includes insights from the New York State First Responder Mental Health Needs Assessment championed by Governor Hochul, which included a survey completed by more than 6,000 first responders in New York State. The Needs Assessment was completed for DHSES by the Benjamin Center and Institute for Disaster Mental Health (IDMH) at SUNY New Paltz. It found that first responders in NYS are suffering from high rates of stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health related challenges.
The new training is a one-hour, awareness level training for mental health professionals interested in working with first responders. It includes videos from responders and mental health professionals about the unique culture, issues, and challenges facing first responders from a mental health perspective. The training includes scenarios and interactive exercises to test the learner’s knowledge. Mental health professionals that successfully complete the training can receive continuing education credit through the Institute of Disaster Mental Health or OMH (Suicide Prevention Center of NY). There are a total of five modules covering the following topics: understanding the work of first responders; first responder culture; stressors and barriers to seeking care; understanding health disparities; and strategies to engage first responders. The First Responder Mental Health and Cultural Awareness Training is available on the DHSES (link) and OMH (link) Learning Management Systems.