Addressing Occupational Trauma with Resilience Training

U.S. suicide rates have risen nearly 30% since 1999. In 2020, suicide was the second leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 34, and the fourth leading cause of death among people ages 35 to 54.

Public Safety workers are often exposed to traumatic events such as seeing abused children, deceased individuals, severe assaults, vehicle accidents, fires, and more. Between 7% and 19% of public safety exhibit symptoms of PTSD, compared to 3.5% of the general public.

These workers show not only high signs of PTSD, but also depression, anxiety and suicide. More public safety workers dies by suicide than in the line of duty, and unfortunately the number of suicide deaths among that group is rising.

The Center for Suicide Awareness and Medical College of Wisconsin Advanced Healthier Grant are working together to provide Master Resiliency Training to Wisconsin First Responders.

The aim of this training is to reduce stress, depression, and suicidal risk for workers, improve services in the field, and reduce workforce turnover rates in Emergency Services. A key component to a comprehensively fit employee is resilience. We are not born resilient; we learn to be resilient through our life experiences. Being resilient provides one with the ability to recover and grow in the face of stressors and ever-changing demands placed on them.

This vitally important series of three-day training programs will provide attendees with the necessary tools, through a series of dynamic and interactive modules, that will allow them to return to their respective agencies with a new philosophy of resilience within their department’s culture.

Training provided by: