The Need

Individuals, families, and communities are impacted by the implications of a first responders work. Below are just a few realities faced by many of those who have chosen service to community or country.

  • 30% of first responders (police officers, firefighters, EMS) will develop a behavioral health condition as a result of their work.

  • The divorce rates in first responder fields can be as high as 75%, compared to the national average of 50%.

  • Soldiers experience major depression 5x more often than civilians, and their rate of PTSD can be as much as 15x higher.

  • More than 80% of first responders experience trauma on the job.

  • Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of on-duty deaths for firefighters and law enforcement officers are 25x more likely to die of heart disease than violence. Stress is a significant factor.

  • Some studies have shown more than 60% of firefighters meeting the symptom criteria for mild traumatic brain injury.

  • Around 40% of firefighters have a sleep disorder such as insomnia or work shift disorder.

  • 9-28% of military members have experienced at least one traumatic brain injury (TBI).

  • Many years, officers and firefighters die by suicide at double or triple the rate of line of duty deaths.

  • Military members are 4x more likely to die by suicide than in military operations.

  • The rate of attempted suicide among first responders is increasing to more than 10 times the national average.

Recruitment and retainment issues are plaguing most first responder fields. This affects us all. Due to the high cost of training professionals, each first responder who leaves their field early does so at a high cost to taxpayers. Many leave their fields carrying significant physical and mental health burdens as a result of their work, which can negatively impact future job prospects. High rates of turnover and low numbers of new recruits result in service gaps that affect the safety and well-being of the public.

Barriers to Getting Help

  • Stigma around seeking help

    In certain fields, getting mental health services may interfere with promotions, deployability, benefits, and more. The fear of consequences is enough to prevent many from utilizing traditional mental health services.

  • Cost of services

    Some do not want to use their insurance or department resources to access services because they do not trust they will have privacy. Out-of-pocket payment is difficult when first responders are consistently underpaid.

  • Challenges with traditional therapy

    Traditional therapy is sometimes viewed negatively by people in first responder fields. It can also be extremely hard emotional work. The trauma exposure that is a regular occurrence in many of their lives can be very challenging to address in traditional therapy without overwhelming their systems, adding more resistance to trying to work through it.

Explore how Neurofeedback Meets these Challenges