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.com
Volume 21
International Journal of Emergency Mental
Health and Human Resilience
ISSN: 1522-4821
Mental Health 2019
March 07-08, 2019
March 07-08, 2019 | Barcelona, Spain
5
th
International Conference on
Mental Health and Human Resilience
The impact of vicarious trauma on the emergency psychiatric responder: Simple systematic approaches
to self-care
Maria Bush
Bush Counseling Services, USA
S
AMHSA reports researchers estimate 30 percent of first responders develop behavioral health conditions that can
include depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. That's compared to 20 percent in the general population.
Crisis responders are often the first to respond to phone calls and situations in their local communities that require
hasty and clinical decision-making. De-escalating mental health crisis, involving children and adults who are
experiencing a mental illness or substance use disorder. Often time crisis responders are in a state of do first and feel
later; over time this can build up and take a mental and physical toll on their health. This in turn impacts the quality
of life for the responder and individuals they serve. Research has found that over time, the buildup of unrecognized
and untreated trauma can open a door to maladaptive behaviors, compassion fatigue, burnout, and place the
responder at a higher risk for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This presentation will aim to provide emergency
psychiatric responders and organizations simple approaches to creating work environments that prioritize the well-
being of a crisis responder. The provision and access to specialized systematic training, mental health and substance
abuse treatment resources, and support from colleagues and supervisors for responders seeking to improving their
emotional and mental health. To take care of others, responders must be feeling well and thinking clearly.
maria.bush@hushmail.comInt J Emerg Ment Health 2019, Volume 21
DOI: 10.4172/1522-4821-C1-027