Invisible Scars: The Battle for Mental Health in EMS - PATH4EMS

Let's discuss the pressing issue of mental health among first responders, particularly within the EMS community. Will gets vulnerable and shares a personal story of trauma on the job to highlight the urgent need for mental health resources and support. Unfortunately, his story is not unique, we will all experience some level of emotional trauma while on the job. This episode features Jessica Nelson, the coordinator of the groundbreaking program and first of its kind state legislation, PATH4EMS. PATH4EMS provides free and confidential mental health care for EMS professionals. We delve into strategies for normalizing mental health conversations, the importance of trauma-informed care, and the benefits of proactive mental health practices. The discussion also covers the need for tailored, evidence-based resources and the unique challenges faced by rural first responders. Tune in to learn about the vital steps being taken to ensure the well-being of those who brave the front lines.   00:00 The Struggles of First Responders 00:53 A Personal Story of Trauma 04:57 The Turning Point: Seeking Therapy 05:42 Introduction to EMScast 06:34 Meet Jessica Nelson: A Pioneer in EMS Mental Health 09:54 The Importance of Confidentiality and Specialized Care 12:17 Effective Mental Health Practices for EMS Providers 19:54 Path for EMS: A Groundbreaking Initiative 30:37 Future Directions and Final Thoughts   Resources PATH4EMS website Today's Sponsor- The Resus Tailor Today's episode blog post Podcast announcements- We're rebranding! New name will be- Loud & Clear: EMS Guideline Principles. Look out for the changes coming soon. Survey- Help us learn what content you want Gear We Like Good Stethoscope - https://amzn.to/3YJJrf2 Good Shears - https://amzn.to/40FROuF or https://amzn.to/3ChZ4Tn  Notepad for taking notes on calls - https://amzn.to/3Z1X21J Sunglasses - https://frontline-optics.com/discount/EMSCAST15 Books we recommend -  The Dichotomy of Leadership - https://amzn.to/4fiCAjN Extreme Ownership - https://amzn.to/3O1FWfa  Managing the Unexpected: Sustained Performance in a Complex World -        https://amzn.to/3V7BwYf Thinking Fast and Slow - https://amzn.to/4fiJG85 A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic's Wild Ride to the Edge and Back -  https://amzn.to/3YJJrf2 Guest/Cast/Crew information-Guest- Jessica Nelson, PATH4EMS coordinatorHost- Ross Orpet, Will Berry Catch up with us after the show Instagram- @emscast Twitter- @ems_cast Website- www.emspodcast.com  

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Paramedic training is over, you’re in the front seat now. Whether day 1 or day 1,000 you can’t shake the fear you’re underprepared. You were taught to systematically decide if A... do B. But what if “A” wasn’t in the book? The truth is each emergency call is too unique to teach the right response to every situation. We need to go beyond algorithmic thinking and understand deeper principles, the WHY behind the algorithm. When every decision counts you want to rely on a framework that will guide you when things don’t make sense. Loud & Clear: EMS Guiding Principles is your resource to build that framework. Through discussions with experts, review of evidence-based best practices, and real-world case studies we teach you one step past what you learned in paramedic school. But all of this advanced education is connected back to the guiding principles that answer the question- “at the end of the day, what actually matters to the patient I have in front of me?” Our mission is to elevate your practice and help you improve patient outcomes in every emergency situation. You may not feel ready, you may not feel like you know enough, but by understanding the guiding principles of emergency medicine you can become an expert EMS clinician. Because what you do matters.