Jim Marshall, CEO and co-founder of the 911 Training Institute, and Jason (Jay) Scott, partner engagement director at 911 Training Institute, discuss the underlying principles of Emergency Mental Health Dispatching (EMHD). They cover the development of MPDS Protocol 41: Caller in Crisis (to be released in Fall 2023 to accompany MPDS v14) and provide examples and resources for those interested in learning more.
The hosts of the H.A.L.T. and Call for Backup podcast series, Jim McLintock and Mike Koch, and Cassie Sexton, series regular, get into the nitty gritty of addiction, trauma, and the day of small beginnings in emergency response.
The present study obtained subjective input from emergency telecommunicators regarding their greatest work-related stressors according to five categories: 911 calls, radio traffic, interactions with coworkers, interactions with management, and work-life balance. In addition, this study obtained emergency telecommunicators’ subjective ideas for prevention and intervention strategies that they would like to have implemented in the workplace, at home, and in the community.
The important role 911 plays in behavioral health emergencies has drawn increased national attention in recent years, with new ideas emerging on how call centers and emergency responses can be more effective. But there is a relative lack of information about how call centers manage these emergencies, including how calls are assessed, what dispatch options are available, and how data on calls and outcomes is collected and shared.
Dr. Violet Rymshaw, CEO of Innovative Writing and former emergency dispatcher for police, fire, and EMS, discusses her research on the distinct needs of emergency dispatcher wellness. She talks about stressful calls and center culture as well as small steps to take toward improving the profession overall.
Dr. Paul Bourgeois, PhD, CRC, NCC, and Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs at the University of New Haven, discusses his research into emergency dispatcher mental health. He talks about parallels between emergency dispatchers and counselors as well as first steps in improving the mental health climate in your agency.
Danissa Alston, Montgomery County Maryland 9-1-1 Communication Center’s staff social worker, discusses how mental health and body health are connected and what you can do today to reduce your stress levels.
Rabbi Cary Friedman, Associate Director of the Law Enforcement Survival Institute and consultant to the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, discusses the role of spirituality in first response, including how to refill your depleted reservoirs.
Police officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical personnel are recognized for their
hard work as on-scene responders, however the role of emergency dispatch is easily
overlooked. The stressors that are seen in emergency responder work are also experienced
by emergency dispatchers. While they are not experiencing these emergencies directly, this
presents unique struggles for them.
