First responder mental health challenges

Our final installment of “The Weight of the Call” looks at the serious mental health problems first responders can face after repeatedly experiencing traumatic events, and the effort being made to address the issue.Part 1 of our report: Local first responders confront grueling battle with PTSD and mental traumaPart 2 of our report:Experts urge culture shift to help responders struggling with PTSD, mental traumaPittsburgh firefighter Brian Matts, a 20-year veteran with Engine Company 28 in Beechview, underwent a brain scan for PTSD and other mental trauma accumulated over the years. The scan was run by Daniel Jarvis, founder of Healing the Hero, a nonprofit dedicated to identifying and correcting mental trauma in first responders.”In the United States, we lose a first responder a day to suicide, whether it’s police or fire,” Jarvis said.A first responder’s nervous system is ramped up 24/7, releasing high levels of the stress hormone cortisol, Jarvis said.”And that’s one of the reasons why we’re seeing heart attacks, strokes, autoimmune issues,” Jarvis said. “The body is under a significant amount of stress for a very long time.”For Matts’ brain scan, Jarvis used a device called EVOX.”It’s an 18-channel EEG, where it’s measuring the electrical output of the brain,” Jarvis said. “What it allows us to do is to identify objective measurements for things like PTSD, anxiety, depression, because you can actually see parts of the brain activating that indicate there are high indicators for that.””Each channel is measuring something in the brain in the frequency range,” he said.The treatment requires an initial brain scan, followed by a series of treatments called the Trauma Resilience Protocol, and then a second scan to assess results. This was Matts’ second brain scan.”You’re going to change that emotional state,” Jarvis said. “You’re not going to change the memory; the memory is going to always be there. It’s just the visceral feeling won’t be there anymore.”An image of a police officer’s brain scan showed heavy red-colored areas indicating PTSD, depression, or anxiety. After treatment, another image showed how much the officer’s condition improved.”We’re just targeting the neural pathway and showing the brain how to reprocess, rewire and consolidate the memory,” Jarvis said.”With our first responders, think about any preexisting conditions they may have,” Dr. Sheila Roth said. “They may already have issues with anxiety, they may already have issues with depression, and now this is layered on top of that.”Roth, a therapist, is training a Pittsburgh firefighters’ peer support group. They will support colleagues struggling with job-related mental trauma.”Did someone die? Did you witness the death? Was someone you care about injured?” Roth asked the group.In Roth’s one-on-one therapy sessions, she delves into the lives of troubled first responders. Dark and disturbing past events to the surface, including physical and sexual abuse, family problems and the death of a loved one.”As a clinician, my job is to go towards the pain. Tell me about that,” she said.Roth said she has also encountered first responders who attempted or contemplated suicide.In simple terms, Roth is the 911 operator for first responders struggling with mental trauma. She uses a cognitive behavioral therapy program called Unified Protocol.”It’s called tactical breathing,” Roth said. “When you breathe in, you activate fight-or-flight, or sympathetic division, in your brain. When you breathe out, you’re actually engaging the relaxation centers of your brain. So what we’re going to do is we’re going to do it together.”Another support group for first responders is the Critical Incident Stress Management Team. They can see first responders within hours after a call.”They will ask us to come out to their locations and sit down and talk with the individuals that were firsthand at that scene,” said Peggy Kearney, a clinical social worker.”It’s to educate them as to what they may experience as a result of the trauma,” Kearney said. If a first responder’s condition is severe, further mental health assessment may be necessary.Inside Allegheny County Emergency Services, call takers and dispatchers handle up to 100 traumatic calls in one shift. It can easily wear them down, both mentally and physically.”In those conversations, we want to provide a space for them that is not necessarily in the room,” Emergency Services Chief Matthew Brown said.Brown showed Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 where his team members can decompress while on the job. They have access to a lounge area and an outdoor area.”We have a walking trail here that pretty much runs the fence line, the perimeter of the property,” Brown said. “Just an opportunity to walk out, get outside, fresh breath of air.””Just regular everyday people, the struggles that they go through, it shows that mental health is not targeted. It will affect anyone at any time if the door is open,” said Mark Kneebone, a retired Pittsburgh police officer.While this report focused on first responders, behavioral experts say everyone should seek help to keep their mental wellness in check.

PITTSBURGH —

Our final installment of “The Weight of the Call” looks at the serious mental health problems first responders can face after repeatedly experiencing traumatic events, and the effort being made to address the issue.

Pittsburgh firefighter Brian Matts, a 20-year veteran with Engine Company 28 in Beechview, underwent a brain scan for PTSD and other mental trauma accumulated over the years. The scan was run by Daniel Jarvis, founder of Healing the Hero, a nonprofit dedicated to identifying and correcting mental trauma in first responders.

“In the United States, we lose a first responder a day to suicide, whether it’s police or fire,” Jarvis said.

A first responder’s nervous system is ramped up 24/7, releasing high levels of the stress hormone cortisol, Jarvis said.

“And that’s one of the reasons why we’re seeing heart attacks, strokes, autoimmune issues,” Jarvis said. “The body is under a significant amount of stress for a very long time.”

For Matts’ brain scan, Jarvis used a device called EVOX.

“It’s an 18-channel EEG, where it’s measuring the electrical output of the brain,” Jarvis said. “What it allows us to do is to identify objective measurements for things like PTSD, anxiety, depression, because you can actually see parts of the brain activating that indicate there are high indicators for that.”

“Each channel is measuring something in the brain in the frequency range,” he said.

The treatment requires an initial brain scan, followed by a series of treatments called the Trauma Resilience Protocol, and then a second scan to assess results. This was Matts’ second brain scan.

“You’re going to change that emotional state,” Jarvis said. “You’re not going to change the memory; the memory is going to always be there. It’s just the visceral feeling won’t be there anymore.”

An image of a police officer’s brain scan showed heavy red-colored areas indicating PTSD, depression, or anxiety. After treatment, another image showed how much the officer’s condition improved.

“We’re just targeting the neural pathway and showing the brain how to reprocess, rewire and consolidate the memory,” Jarvis said.

“With our first responders, think about any preexisting conditions they may have,” Dr. Sheila Roth said. “They may already have issues with anxiety, they may already have issues with depression, and now this is layered on top of that.”

Roth, a therapist, is training a Pittsburgh firefighters’ peer support group. They will support colleagues struggling with job-related mental trauma.

“Did someone die? Did you witness the death? Was someone you care about injured?” Roth asked the group.

In Roth’s one-on-one therapy sessions, she delves into the lives of troubled first responders. Dark and disturbing past events to the surface, including physical and sexual abuse, family problems and the death of a loved one.

“As a clinician, my job is to go towards the pain. Tell me about that,” she said.

Roth said she has also encountered first responders who attempted or contemplated suicide.

In simple terms, Roth is the 911 operator for first responders struggling with mental trauma. She uses a cognitive behavioral therapy program called Unified Protocol.

“It’s called tactical breathing,” Roth said. “When you breathe in, you activate fight-or-flight, or sympathetic division, in your brain. When you breathe out, you’re actually engaging the relaxation centers of your brain. So what we’re going to do is we’re going to do it together.”

Another support group for first responders is the Critical Incident Stress Management Team. They can see first responders within hours after a call.

“They will ask us to come out to their locations and sit down and talk with the individuals that were firsthand at that scene,” said Peggy Kearney, a clinical social worker.

“It’s to educate them as to what they may experience as a result of the trauma,” Kearney said. If a first responder’s condition is severe, further mental health assessment may be necessary.

Inside Allegheny County Emergency Services, call takers and dispatchers handle up to 100 traumatic calls in one shift. It can easily wear them down, both mentally and physically.

“In those conversations, we want to provide a space for them that is not necessarily in the room,” Emergency Services Chief Matthew Brown said.

Brown showed Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 where his team members can decompress while on the job. They have access to a lounge area and an outdoor area.

“We have a walking trail here that pretty much runs the fence line, the perimeter of the property,” Brown said. “Just an opportunity to walk out, get outside, fresh breath of air.”

“Just regular everyday people, the struggles that they go through, it shows that mental health is not targeted. It will affect anyone at any time if the door is open,” said Mark Kneebone, a retired Pittsburgh police officer.

While this report focused on first responders, behavioral experts say everyone should seek help to keep their mental wellness in check.