Deborah Green on Dispatchers' Mental Health, Stigma, and Resilience Strategies

Kyle Goodknight and Deborah Green delve into the critical mental health challenges faced by first responders, focusing on dispatchers. Deborah shares her trauma experience, highlighting the stigma and the urgent need to normalize mental health discussions. They discuss the impact of work conditions, high turnover, and lack of recognition for dispatchers, alongside vicarious trauma and training inadequacies. The episode covers financial challenges, retirement concerns, and the effects of PTSD, workman's comp, and COVID-19. They emphasize the importance of peer support, alternative treatments, and closure in dispatch work. The conversation concludes with resources and stories of resilience, encouraging engagement with the podcast.

Deborah's Contact Info
https://linktr.ee/d911green

Dispatchers as Part of 1st Responders Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/reclassify911dispatchers

Wound to Wisdom Book
https://www.thepowerofourstory.com/

(0:00) Introduction to Deborah Green's trauma experience
(0:11) Welcome and introduction of Deborah Green
(0:41) Stigma and normalizing mental health discussions
(1:00) Call to action for listeners
(1:10) Work conditions and mental health impacts for dispatchers
(2:14) High turnover and lack of first responder recognition for dispatchers
(3:18) Vicarious trauma and training inadequacies
(5:24) Peer support and stress management strategies
(7:22) Outdated attitudes towards mental health in first responder professions
(9:00) Financial challenges and retirement concerns for first responders
(10:21) Deborah Green's PTSD journey and support systems
(12:25) Workman's comp and COVID-19 impacts on mental health
(16:51) Understanding ACEs and childhood traumas in first responder careers
(20:30) Normalizing mental health conversations and department initiatives
(22:34) Kyle's personal mental health experience and Deborah's post perfusion syndrome
(24:37) Impact of mental health on job performance and insurance limitations
(27:14) Challenges in seeking mental health help and alternative treatment options
(30:02) Flexible spending for mental health and the need for closure in dispatch work
(32:14) Alternative treatments and legal challenges with CBD/THC
(35:18) Importance of closure and follow-up in first responder roles
(37:47) Dispatcher's role in mental health and final thoughts
(41:55) Resources and stories of resilience for first responders
(45:07) Closing remarks and social media information
(46:11) Kyle's appreciation and encouragement to engage with the podcast