HLTH 0200 First Responder Resilience and Behavioral Health

First Responder Resilience and Behavioral Health:  Synchronous Virtual Workshop Series

Dates:  Information will be available soon

First responders experience unprecedented levels of stress in their daily professional and personal lives. These stresses have increased in recent times, due to risks to their health associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to the incidences of social unrest throughout the country. Caring for others has always carried a risk of fatigue and burnout, and that risk has been exacerbated at the current time.

This virtual workshop series is presented in collaboration between Northeastern University Bouvé College and Northeastern University Seattle. The series will meet the growing need for first responders to acquire key knowledge and awareness of the signs and symptoms of stress, burnout, compassion fatigue; as well as about preventive measures such as selfcare and peer to peer support.

The workshop series is geared toward first responders from all areas (law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, dispatch, leaders and supervisors in these fields).  *We recommend that you check with your Department for possible tuition reimbursement.

Badge from Northeastern University:  Participants who complete the workshop series could be eligible for a Badge. 

This is a three-part workshop series which will provide participants with the opportunity to learn more about the unique factors that impact behavioral health for responders, and a set of tools and strategies to manage and grow from the challenges inherent in the work. Starting with the neuroscience of long-term exposure to critical incidents and emergencies, workshop #1 will emphasize effective information processing and communication strategies that are informed by best practices for long-term health. Workshop #2 will address how to attend to and respond effectively to colleagues and friends who may be experiencing behavioral health crises, and how to recognize and mitigate those same risks for yourself while addressing the triad of burnout, compassion fatigue and moral injury. Workshop #3 will walk you through the development of a personal coping plan that works for you and is designed to be effective based on your personal values and resources. 

Workshop 1: Managing long-term exposures to stress and trauma at work: common neurological and physical experiences, and how those experiences influence our interpersonal communication styles and strategies.

Workshop 2: Behavioral Health Support for yourself and others when crisis happens: How to identify and effectively address signs of Burnout, Compassion Fatigue and Moral Injury and engage effective workplace appropriate crisis intervention.

Workshop 3: Anticipate, Plan, Deter: Building a personal coping plan that works, that you will actually use, and how to engage in active and practical resilience building without doing yoga or starting a journal (unless you want to).

Note: the workshops will not be recorded. 

Presenter:  Dr. Kira Mauseth is a practicing clinical psychologist who sees patients at Snohomish Psychology Associates in Everett and Edmonds, WA, teaches as a Senior Instructor at Seattle University and serves as a co-lead for the Behavioral Health Strike Team for the WA State Department of Health. She also owns Astrum Health, LLC, and consults with organizations and educational groups about disaster preparedness and resilience building within local communities.   For CV click here