scholarly journals Experiences of trauma, depression, anxiety, and stress in western-Canadian HEMS personnel

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Sebastian Harenberg ◽  
Michelle C. E. McCarron ◽  
R. Nicholas Carleton ◽  
Thomas O'Malley ◽  
Terry Ross
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Mental Health Concerns

Mental health in first responders and other public safety personnel has received substantial research attention in the past decade. Emergency medical services (EMS) demonstrate a heightened prevalence of maladaptive mental health concerns compared to other first responders (e.g., police, fire fighters). Interestingly, there is an absence of research examining helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) personnel, who respond to what are often life-threatening cases in chal­lenging circumstances. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to assess the experiences of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and associated mental health conditions (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress) in HEMS workers. HEMS work­ers from a single mid-western Canadian organization (n = 100) participated in the study. The participants completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) as part of an online survey. The results revealed that five per cent of HEMS personnel experienced heightened PTSD symptoms. Few participants exhibited signs of mild to severe depression, anxiety, and stress (< 17%). HEMS personnel experienced fewer mental health concerns than other first responder groups as reported in the literature; indeed, these figures are similar to levels observed within the general population. These findings may be explained by organizational or personality charac­teristics. Underreporting of mental health concerns may be an alternate explanation. Future qualitative and quantitative research is needed to explain and replicate the results of the present study. 

“You Have No Idea What We Do”: Correctional Officers, Mental Health, and Prison Ethnography

2021 ◽  
pp. 571-598
Author(s):  
William J. Schultz
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Correctional Officers ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Health Programming ◽  
Power And Influence

Correctional officers occupy key positions of power and influence in prisons, yet experience massive stress and perceive themselves as vulnerable. Existing research outlines the significant mental health challenges officers face, but there is limited information on exactly how mental health concerns influence officer behavior on a day-to-day basis. I draw on ethnographic observations and semi-structured interviews with 131 Canadian provincial correctional officers, to demonstrate that stress, perceptions of vulnerability, and tension between management and staff strongly influence officer behavior. My participants outline common officer narratives relating to mental health, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and even suicide. In addition, a portion of officers describe using substances to manage stress. I detail how these narratives influence officer behavior toward prisoners, managers, other officers, and people outside prison. I conclude by examining existing mental health programming for officers and assess what steps correctional administrators can take to address common concerns.

Narrative Therapy to Address Trauma for Emergency Medical Services and Firefighters

2020 ◽  
pp. 243-257
Author(s):  
Amanda C. DeDiego ◽  
Isabel C. Farrell ◽  
Andrea M. McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Narrative Therapy ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Peer Perception

First responders, including Emergency Medical Services personnel and firefighters, support community members in times of crisis. When responding to emergencies, first responders often experience both direct and vicarious trauma. Over time, the pace and intensity of a career as a first responder leads to poor health habits and high risk for mental health issues including posttraumatic stress disorder. Due to concern about peer perception and mental health stigma, these professionals are less likely to seek mental health supports to manage and process trauma. This chapter explores Narrative Therapy as an ideal option for mental health treatment of first responder trauma, providing a collaborative approach to therapy using the natural coping strategy of storytelling.

Narrative Therapy to Address Trauma for Emergency Medical Services and Firefighters

2021 ◽  
pp. 503-517
Author(s):  
Amanda C. DeDiego ◽  
Isabel C. Farrell ◽  
Andrea M. McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Narrative Therapy ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Peer Perception

First responders, including Emergency Medical Services personnel and firefighters, support community members in times of crisis. When responding to emergencies, first responders often experience both direct and vicarious trauma. Over time, the pace and intensity of a career as a first responder leads to poor health habits and high risk for mental health issues including posttraumatic stress disorder. Due to concern about peer perception and mental health stigma, these professionals are less likely to seek mental health supports to manage and process trauma. This chapter explores Narrative Therapy as an ideal option for mental health treatment of first responder trauma, providing a collaborative approach to therapy using the natural coping strategy of storytelling.

Review of "Rhetorical work in emergency medical services: Communicating in the unpredictable workplace by Elizabeth Angeli," Angeli, E. L. (2019). Rhetorical work in emergency medical services: communicating in the unpredictable workplace. Routledge

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-41
Author(s):  
Elizabeth E. Weems
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Rhetorical Analysis ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Professional Communication ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Emergency Medical

In Rhetorical Work in Emergency Medical Services: Communicating in the Unpredictable Workplace (2019), Elizabeth L. Angeli explores the unpredictable workplaces which are the locations of emergency medical services provided by first responders, the EMS personnel who receive 911 calls but may have little idea about what to expect once they arrive at the site of the emergency. While rhetoric of health medicine (RHM) is not a new area of rhetoric, Angeli found little research about EMS professional rhetoric, leaving a void in understanding the modes of communication in these ever-changing, life-altering workplaces. Her text began as part of her dissertation project but morphed into a rhetorical analysis/EMS rhetorical training pedagogy for Technical Professional Communication (TPC) and RHM as well as EMS trainers and trainees.

scholarly journals Prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety among hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaru Chen ◽  
Xin Huang ◽  
Chengyuan Zhang ◽  
Yuanyuan An ◽  
Yiming Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Trauma Exposure ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Negative News

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected more than 5 million people around the world and killed more than 300,000 people; thus, it has become a global public health emergency. Our objective was to investigate the mental health of hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Methods The PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Trauma Exposure Scale, abbreviated version of the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) and Demographic Questionnaire were used to examine posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, trauma exposure, resilience and perceived social support among 898 patients who were hospitalized after being diagnosed with COVID-19 in China. The data were analyzed with t tests, one-way ANOVA and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results The results showed that the prevalence of PTSD, depression and anxiety was 13.2, 21.0 and 16.4%, respectively. Hospitalized patients who were more impacted by negative news reports, had greater exposure to traumatic experiences, and had lower levels of perceived social support reported higher PTSD, depression and anxiety. Conclusions Effective professional mental health services should be designed to support the psychological wellbeing of hospitalized patients, especially those who have severe disease, are strongly affected by negative news and have high levels of exposure to trauma.

scholarly journals Posttraumatic stress disorder among adolescents in Brazil: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joviana Quintes Avanci ◽  
Fernanda Serpeloni ◽  
Thiago Pires de Oliveira ◽  
Simone Gonçalves de Assis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Community Violence ◽  
Functional Impairment ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Cluster Sampling ◽  
Psychological Violence

Abstract Background The frequency of trauma and different types of violence exposure in urban areas and their effects on the mental health of adolescents in developing countries are poorly investigated. Most information about traumatized young people comes from war scenarios or disasters. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PTSD in trauma-exposed students in a low-resource city of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The effects of sociodemographic and individual and family factors in the development of PTSD were also investigated. Methods Through multi-stage cluster sampling, 862 adolescents (Mage = 15 years old, 65% female) from public and private schools in the city of São Gonçalo were selected for the study. Self-rating structured questionnaires were applied to assess sociodemographic profile, exposure to physical and psychological violence (family, school, community), sexual abuse, social support, social functional impairment, resilience, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The data were grouped in blocks regarding sociodemographic, individual, family, and community variables. For statistical analysis, chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, and logistic regression were performed. Results The PTSD prevalence was 7.8% among adolescents. Boys were exposed to significantly higher number of events of community violence, while girls to family violence. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for PTSD were statistically significant for age (OR, 1.45, [95% CI, 1.043–2.007]), social functional impairment (OR, 4.82, [95% CI, 1.77–13.10]), severe maternal physical violence (OR, 2.79, [95% CI, 0.79–9.93]), psychological violence by significant people (OR, 3.96, [95% CI, 1.89–8.31]) and a high number of episodes of community violence (OR, 3.52, [95% CI, 1.47–8.40). Conclusions There was a high prevalence of PTSD within this population associated with exposure to violence. Not only physical, but also psychological violence contributed to PTSD. The results also raise awareness to the differences in life trajectories between boys and girls regarding violence. These differences need to be better understood in order to enable the development of effective preventative interventions. Treating and preventing mental health disorders presents a challenge for countries, especially those with a lower degree of social and economic development and high community violence.

Age moderates the relationship between source of social support and mental health in racial minority lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 888-897
Author(s):  
Anna E Wise ◽  
Brian C Smith ◽  
Aaron P Armelie ◽  
Jessica M Boarts ◽  
Douglas L Delahanty
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Racial Minority ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
The Relationship

We examined the relationship between source of social support and mental health (and the moderating impact of age) in 64 low socioeconomic status, racial minority lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents/young adults. Social support from family ( β = −.302, p = .03; β = −.364, p = .008), but not friends or significant others, was independently related to posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms, respectively. Family social support was associated with lower posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms in participants aged 16–19 years, while friend social support was associated with lower symptoms for participants aged over 20 years. Friend social support was also associated with lower posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in participants aged 16–17 years. Interventions should target age-appropriate sources of social support.

scholarly journals Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Adjustment Disorder in Lithuanian Healthcare in 2018–2020: A Nation-Wide Cohort Study of the Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1422
Author(s):  
Evaldas Kazlauskas ◽  
Odeta Gelezelyte ◽  
Auguste Nomeikaite ◽  
Paulina Zelviene
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Adjustment Disorder ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
National Healthcare

Multiple empirical studies have revealed significant pandemic effects of COVID-19 on mental health in various populations. This study aimed to analyze the incidences of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and adjustment disorder (AjD) in national healthcare in 2018–2020 in one of the European countries—Lithuania—and estimate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on PTSD and AjD incidences in 2020. The national healthcare registry was used for estimations of diagnosis of PTSD, AjD, and major depressive disorder (MD). The study revealed that stress-related disorders PTSD and AjD are diagnosed rarely, resulting in a considerable gap between the expected prevalence and incidences of these diagnoses in healthcare in Lithuania. Moreover, a significant decline in mental disorders incidence in healthcare in 2020, in comparison to 2018 and 2019, was found, revealing that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on access to healthcare services and increased barriers for mental disorders treatment. The study indicates that major developments in building up knowledge about the effects of trauma and life stressors on mental health are needed in Lithuania and other countries to increase awareness about stress-related disorders and improve care for trauma survivors, in particular in the context of the pandemics or other large-scale disasters.

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