Sec. 2. Findings

775 words·~4 min read·/bill/118/hr/6415/ih/section-2

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Congress finds the following: According to the Department of Homeland Security, there are an estimated 4.6 million people serving as career and volunteer professionals in the United States within 5 primary response disciplines: law enforcement, fire and rescue services, emergency management, and public works. First responders are usually the first on the scene to face challenging, dangerous, and draining situations. First responders are also the first to reach out to disaster survivors and provide emotional and physical support to them.

These duties, although essential to the entire community, are strenuous to first responders and with time put them at an increased risk of experiencing some mental health and substance use issues and conditions. The combination of exposure to trauma, demanding schedules, and physically challenging roles puts first responders at an increased risk for mental health issues such as depression, post-traumatic dress disorder, stress, and suicidal behaviors. According to a 2018 study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 30 percent of first responders develop behavioral health conditions including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, as compared with 20 percent in the general population.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration finds that an estimated between 125 and 300 police officers die by suicide annually. Data from the National Violent Death Reporting System indicates that first responders made up 1 percent of all suicides from 2015 to 2017. When broken down by response discipline, these first responder suicides occurred among law enforcement officers (58 percent), firefighters (21 percent), emergency medical services providers (18 percent) and public safety telecommunicators (2 percent).

According to the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance, more firefighters died of suicide than in the line of duty between 2014 and 2020, and nearly 58 percent of firefighters were exposed to traumatic events like mass shootings, violence car crashes, or child abuse. For many first responders, it can be difficult to transition from being a provider to client or patient is not an easy one so when a first responder finally seeks treatment, it can be devastating to encounter an ill-prepared provider and may result in reluctance to seek further help.

Many first responders may consider stress to be part of the job and feel that they cannot or should not talk about traumatic events and other occupational stressors. Perceived stigma around mental health problems or concerns over impact on employment, including but not limited to being labeled as unfit for duty, may lead first responders to not report trauma, mental health issues, or suicidal thoughts. There are limited resources available to specifically address the mental health needs of first responders.

Often, first responders are directed to general mental health practitioners who may not understand the unique demands faced by first responders or the cultures in which they operate. While these services may meet the needs of many patients, general practitioners may not understand what first responders experience on the job or be able to relate to them in a culturally competent manner. Providing first responders with mental health and substance use resources and services that are readily available and occupationally relevant can help them deal with excess stress, attain timely and clinically appropriate care, and feel better prepared to respond to an emergency.

Public safety telecommunicators, including 9–1–1 operators and fire dispatchers, are the backbone of our national emergency response system. They provide round-the-clock coverage in more than 6,000 emergency communication centers around the country. Public safety telecommunicators are responsible for answering emergency and nonemergency calls and directing police, fire and rescue, and other emergency response personnel to assist those in need. They are required to multitask, conduct on-the-spot problem solving, and maintain composure and compassion, while coaching callers through often difficult and disturbing situations like home invasions, incidents of domestic violence, burning homes, automobile accidents and fatalities, and homicides.

The work of public safety telecommunicators is often high-stress, fast-paced, and emotionally demanding. Every day, they are faced with challenges and trauma that places them at increased risk for developing mental health challenges. According to studies conducted by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, between 17 percent and 24 percent of public safety telecommunicators have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and 24 percent have symptoms of depression.

While telecommunicators are often the very first responders engaged with those on scene, research on their suicide risk and mental health has lagged. Despite playing a critical role in protecting and saving lives in emergency situations, public safety telecommunicators are classified by most States and by the Federal Government as office and administrative support personnel and not as first responders, leaving them without access to important mental health resources available to other emergency response professionals.