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If your public safety agency is considering a new wellness initiative, either building one from the ground up or modifying an existing program, there are numerous choices to be made. Selecting a wellness coordinator will likely be the most important decision you make as you get ready to launch your wellness program, so it’s helpful to have some guidance regarding what factors to consider as you evaluate candidates. Following are some helpful tips on what to look for as you decide who is going to drive your wellness project forward. Selecting the right wellness coordinator for your agency is ..read more

The Four Dimensions of Mental Wellness   Gordon Graham Category: Public Safety Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for all my friends in public safety. I’d like to offer some suggestions to help improve mental wellness. Mental wellness helps us think, feel, connect and function. It also helps us build resilience, allowing us to grow and flourish as people. Did you know that each year, almost 44 million adults in the U.S. suffer from mental health issues? With numbers like that, I think it’s crucial to emphasize staff mental wellness. Yes folks, I said “ment ..read more

In public safety, where the demand for resources often outpaces budgets, public- and private-sector grants have become an important way of funding a variety of initiatives. Police departments, sheriffs’ offices, fire departments, emergency medical services (EMS) and corrections agencies all face the daunting challenge of maintaining operational efficiency with static or even shrinking budgets. Grants — whether federal, state or private — provide essential financial support to enhance capabilities, improve services and implement innovative solutions for our nation’s first responders. However ..read more

In the demanding world of first responders, recognizing when to seek help is crucial yet often obscured by the stigma against mental health treatment. The stigma surrounding mental health in such a masculine, tough-it-out culture can make it difficult for those who dedicate their lives to helping others to acknowledge when they, themselves, need help. Let’s demystify this process, outlining clear indicators for when it’s time to seek help, exploring the options available, and when it’s critical to take action. Self-Check-In Reflection As a first responder, successfully navigating the rigor ..read more

Each day, across the United States, first responders risk their own safety for the welfare of the communities they serve. In addition to bodily harm, public safety employees are also exposed to both acute and cumulative trauma, making them vulnerable to developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), moral injury and other mental health challenges. According to the Institutes of Health, a substantial majority of first responders (80% or more) are subjected to on-the-job trauma, and about one in three will go on to develop PTSD. The consequences can be severe: First responders are at elev ..read more

Gordon Graham here! In my last article I recommended you pick up a copy of Darker Shades of Blue by Dr. Tony Kern. Allow me to digress here and tell you about this American treasure. I rarely use that term – even though I have met lots of great people who have done a lot of great things for our nation – but Dr. Kern is truly a treasure. Dr. Kern is a retired B-1 pilot, prolific author, brilliant lecturer, successful businessman and overall good guy. Darker Shades of Blue was my introduction to him; I picked it up in 2000 at a bookstore in Long Beach. This was long before I had a Kindle or ..read more

In the world of first responders, where every moment counts and physical fitness is crucial, the gym serves as a sanctuary for maintaining physical well-being and mental health. However, just as there are policies and guidelines in the field, there are also unspoken rules of etiquette in the gym that ensure a harmonious and respectful workout environment for all. It doesn’t matter if this is a gym in the firehouse or one in the community — it’s essential to uphold these principles of gym etiquette to promote a positive atmosphere for “tactical athletes” and their fellow gym-goers. 2. Be C ..read more

A house is not a home. Home is where the heart is. Home is what you make of it. Home, sweet home. We have all heard these sayings repeatedly, but how many of us have stopped to think about them and what they mean? More importantly, have you thought about what your home means to you and your family? Is your home merely a place to eat, sleep and change for the next shift, or is it a place where you can truly disconnect from the job? Have your work life and home life become so enmeshed that you really cannot separate them from one another? As a first responder, you may all too often find yo ..read more

Today is Valentine’s Day, and you likely have big plans with your partner this evening. (If not, it’s probably time to make some!) If either of you will be on shift, you should still get together and agree to celebrate another day. As you spoil and pamper your loved one, though, consider this: How do you treat them the other 364 days of the year? Valentine’s Day Truth Bomb Grand gestures on February 14 can’t make up negative or apathetic treatment on other days. As Dr. Rachelle Zemlok, strategic wellness director for Lexipol, mentions in the video, studies have shown it takes five positiv ..read more