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Rylee Hensley

ENG 1201 Online

03 April 2019

Working Bibliography

1. ) Gramlich, Michael A., and Sandra M. Neer. “Firefiger-Paramedic With Posttraumatic

Stress Disorder, Horrific Images, and Depression: A Clinical Case Study.” ​Clinical Case

Studies​, vol. 17, no. 3, 2018, pp. 150–165., doi:10.1177/1534650118770792.h

The article exhibits the study of an assessment done on a 41 year old firefighter- paramedic

named Ryan receiving treatment for post traumatic stress disorder and completed

intervention. ​Intervention that included imaginal exposure therapy, behavioral

activation, and cognitive therapy for depression.

This will be useful for my article because it dives into a study of someone who

experienced gruesome scenes and cruelty. Shows that intervention can be

successful and if we can get first responders to agree to treatment they will be

healthier.

2.) Haugen, Peter T., et al. “Mental Health Stigma and Barriers to Mental Health Care for First

Responders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” ​Journal of Psychiatric Research​,

vol. 94, 2017, pp. 218–229., doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.08.001.

“First responders are usually the first on the scene to face challenging, dangerous, and draining

situations. They 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 trauma. The
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purposes of this publication are to discuss the challenges encountered by first responders

during regular duty as well as following disasters; shed more light on the risks and

behavioral health consequences (such as PTSD, stress, and depression) of serving as a first

responder; and present steps that can be taken to reduce these risks either on the individual

or institutional levels.”

“First responders involved in these occupations are exposed to hazards inherent in the nature of

their jobs (Plat, Frings-Dresen, & Sluiter, 2011). Examples include exposure (direct or

indirect) to death, grief, injury, pain, or loss as well as direct exposure to threats to

personal safety, long hours of work, frequent shifts and longer shift hours, poor sleep,

physical hardships, and other negative experiences”

I chose this source because it speaks about the hardships of the job of first responder, and

explains the things they see and have to work with. This is reliable because the researcher

also sites their sources.

3.) ​REGEHR, CHERYL, author, and TED, author BOBER. ​DISASTROUS EVENTS : Mass

Emergencies and the Emergency Responder​. Oxford University Press, 2005. ​EBSCOhost​,

doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195165029.003.0004

“​ The phases of a disaster include the pre-disaster warning or threat phase, the impact

phase, the rescue stage, the disillusionment phase, and the recovery and

reconstruction phase. Each phase of disaster brings unique challenges for first

response professionals and in turn interventions require ongoing assessment,

sensitivity, and appropriate application. Additionally, this chapter examines risk

factors for adverse outcomes in relation to the psychosocial resources available to

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the disaster victims and emergency response professional. “

This will help me with research by explaining the phases of disaster and actually how

much training and time goes into them for when they occur. When they occur the

stress that first responders are put under. It is reliable because it is from a research

book.

4. ) Davis, Howard. “Contextual Challenges for Crisis Support in the Immediate Aftermath of

Major Incidents in the UK.” ​British Journal of Social Work​, vol. 43, no. 3, Apr. 2013, p.

504. ​EBSCOhost,​

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edb&AN=87593625&site=eds-live.

The article talks about how social workers deal with the emotional aftermath of disasters with

first responders and those effected. This gets a “outside - in” perspective.

5.) Staff, Reviewed by Editorial. “Firefighters & First Responders In Need of Treatment.”

American Addiction Centers​, Editorial Staff,

americanaddictioncenters.org/firefighters-first-responders.

Price, Greg, and Enrico Colantini. “Documentary Showcases Stresses of First Responders.” ​The

Taber Times Documentary Showcases Stresses of First Responders Comments​,

www.tabertimes.com/news/2019/01/16/documentary-showcases-stresses-of-first-responde

rs/​.

“​“After years of those types of calls, all the sudden, you wake up and say ‘I don’t feel

like a hero anymore.’ Yet the public perception can still be that. So now you have

that expectation that you can’t have any vulnerability. I’m the helper and I

shouldn’t be asking for help because people are asking me to help them,” said
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Bos. “You’re wearing sort of a mask, where you have to portray a persona that

says you are OK, that I’m strong enough. Inwardly, I’m not feeling that. I’m feeling

terrible, where there are pains, but I have a smile I’m hiding behind. There are a

lot of first responders who wear that mask that don’t want to be vulnerable.”

This comes straight from a firefighter who has been on a department for 30 years,

seeing all kinds of sad things. This makes the research believable because it

comes from someone who has experienced depression first hand from the job. He

speaks on how hard it is to seek help because first responders are the help.

6.) “CRISIS RESPONSE & TRAUMA CARE SERIES: Crisis and First Responder Training.”

“My Parents' Support Shaped My Recovery.” ​NAMI​,

www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Law-Enforcement-and-Mental-Health​.

“First Responder Mental Health Needs Are a Trending Topic.” ​Bradley University Online​, 19

Dec. 2018, onlinedegrees.bradley.edu/blog/counseling-clients-in-first-responder-careers/.

“ Of the 4,022 emergency medical service providers who responded, 86 percent said

they had experienced a critical stress, which was defined as “the stress [providers]

undergo either as a result of a single critical incident that had a significant impact upon

you, or the accumulation of stress over a period of time.” As a result of that stress, more

than one-third (37 percent) said they had contemplated suicide; 6.6 percent said they

had made an actual attempt. Researchers associated with the survey noted that the

number of responders who thought about or attempted suicide was almost 10 times

greater than the national American adult average for both scenarios, a baseline
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established by a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study in 2012 and

cited by the authors.

The outsized rate of mental health issues in first responders compared to national

averages was also seen in Canada. The Canadian Broadcasting Company shared

results of a first-of-its-kind national survey that showed 44.5 percent of the more than

5,800 paramedic, police, 911 operator and firefighter respondents “screened positive for

clinically significant symptom clusters consistent with one or more mental disorders.”

According to CBC, which cited government statistics, the same rate of incidence in the

general population was 10 percent.” I am using this in my paper because it states actual

backed up statistics from the Journal of Emergency Medical Services and is cited in

itself. This will give the appeal to the reader that this is a more common issue than they

thought and make them more aware.

7.) Sack, David. “Trauma and First Responders: When the Helpers Need Help.” ​Psychology

Today​, Sussex Publishers, 31 Jan. 2017,

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/where-science-meets-the-steps/201701/trauma-and-fir

st-responders-when-the-helpers-need-help​.

“​For one thing, first responders generally operate in a culture that seeks to uphold an

image of invincibility. It’s a way of dealing with all they must encounter. Admitting

that there are cracks in the armor can seem not only counterproductive but

dangerous—a way of undermining the confidence necessary to do the job

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effectively and safely.

Unfortunately, that’s an attitude that can rise all the way up to managerial ranks, with
those who open up about what they are feeling to their superiors sometimes being
told to simply “deal with it” or “toughen up.”

I chose this article because it is from a psychology website, and shows why first
responders are afraid to get the help they need. It gives a glimpse of what its like
inside our heads after a tough call. This will strike emotion in the reader, making
them want to read more.