The Value of Community
Community is essential. “Brotherhood” or “camaraderie” among First Responders is a sign of how much we rely on one another for support and connection. This bond is as essential for survival as it is for health, wellness, and recovery. Being bonded in brotherhood or sisterhood within our community can help us feel less alone. Sometimes, […]
Creating a Culture of Wellness
It can be difficult to keep up with personal mental health and wellness if the environment around a person is not conducive to it. For this reason, it is essential for organizations to focus on promoting a culture of wellness. A First Responder can do everything right on their end to make sure they are […]
Lexipol and First Responder Wellness Partnership Announcement
Enhancing Mental Health Support for Public Safety and First Responders Lexipol, the leader in solutions that enhance performance excellence in public safety, is proud to announce a new partnership with First Responder Wellness (FRW). This collaboration aims to enhance mental health support for first responders by integrating Lexipol’s clinician and peer support training with FRW’s residential treatment […]
Be Mindful of Negative Coping
We all experience emotions and events that are uncomfortable, painful, or traumatic. Those moments or circumstances often cause lingering thoughts and emotions that must be dealt with one way or another. At some point, we may engage in numbing behavior to put off having to process unpleasant feelings. That behavior may look different for everyone […]
Suicide Intervention
Many people are not sure what to do if they think someone they know might be thinking about suicide. Be direct. Ask the question. Let them know you care. In addition to this article, you can also watch a short video about suicide intervention. Go online: https://rb.gy/sky6k8. First Responders are more likely to die by […]
Avoid the Consequences of Lack of Sleep
As a first responder, you may be used to hearing that you need to get some sleep. A job like yours requires extensive mental and physical energy with the potential to wear you out by the end of the day. Therefore, it will require that you get sufficient rest to be adequately prepared for the […]
Creating and Keeping Healthy New Year’s Resolutions
After the flurry and liveliness of holiday festivities comes a time for quiet reflection, as many look back on this past year and prepare for the next. This desire to continue improving oneself as we make our New Year’s resolutions is a healthy intention. It is admirable to make goals for ourselves continually, but when […]
Understanding mental clarity in recovery
First responders who have stayed sober for extended periods are privy to the mental health benefits of experiencing peace of mind. However, any long-tenured recovery alumni can attest that these moments of clarity, feeling content in sobriety and life in general, often lack their portability.
Four effective methods you can utilize to assist a first responder in recovery
The role that friends and family take on when a loved one struggles with addiction almost resembles the job responsibility of a first responder.
The feeling of being “on-call” for a person who has the potential to go into crisis at any moment and constantly remaining open to the prospect of intervening for your loved one requires both empathy and vigilance, the same characteristics that first responders use to do their jobs.
Three mental health benefits you can reap by disconnecting from technology
First responders are always plugged in and constantly on the go, so it’s essential to occasionally put your phone down and allow yourself to live in the present.
Think back to when you didn’t take your phone with you into the restroom or converse with your loved ones at the dinner table; you allowed yourself to be present and not multitasking 24/7.