Jessica Hayes-Cook LCPC

09/26/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/18AezyNXqr/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🚑 Having mental health resources available doesn't necessarily mean EMS employees will use them.

That distinction matters.

A 2025 systematic review examined 34 sources to better understand why EMS employees do—or do not—use mental health and well-being support provided through their organizations.

One theme sat above everything else:

Organizational culture.

Researchers identified several barriers that can make an available resource feel unusable:

🚫 Stigma around mental health and help-seeking

🚫 Fear of negative career consequences

🚫 Lack of trust in the organization or support process

🚫 Concerns about whether managers and colleagues can respond appropriately

🚫 Not having time during work to access support

🚫 Limited awareness of evidence-based resources

🚫 A perception that organizational wellness efforts are being offered out of obligation rather than genuine concern

The review also discussed machismo within EMS culture—not simply as toughness, but as cultural expectations that may discourage disclosure and help-seeking.

But the researchers also identified factors that can make organizational support easier to use.

✅ Strong and visible leadership commitment

✅ Dedicated time at work for mental health and well-being

✅ Proactive rather than purely reactive support

✅ Normalizing the use of mental health resources

✅ Support tailored to EMS employees and individual needs

✅ Education and training that increases awareness and confidence

✅ A culture of self-care and looking out for one another

One recommendation I found particularly interesting was the idea of reframing traditional ideas of toughness.

Instead of defining strength through dominance, competition, or simply enduring distress, organizations can reinforce values already important within first responder culture:

Respect. Perseverance. Courage.

And courage can include asking for help.

This study reinforces something important:

Access isn't just whether a resource exists.

A department can have an EAP, peer support program, counseling benefit, or wellness initiative on paper.

But employees are also asking:

Can I trust it?
Will I have time to use it?
Will this affect my career?
Does the person helping me understand EMS?
Does my leadership actually support me using it?

If the answer to those questions is no, having a program may not translate into people actually using it.

We shouldn't measure a wellness system only by what an organization offers. We should also ask whether employees feel safe enough to use it.

📖 Reference:
Johnston, S., Waite, P., Laing, J., Rashid, L., Wilkins, A., Hooper, C., Hindhaugh, E., & Wild, J. (2025). Why do emergency medical service employees (not) seek organizational help for mental health support?: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(4), 629.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040629

06/09/2026

**June is PTSD Awareness Month.**

PTSD is often misunderstood. It is not a sign of weakness, a lack of resilience, or something someone should simply "get over." PTSD is a real and treatable response to experiencing or witnessing traumatic events.

For many first responders, military personnel, healthcare workers, survivors of violence, and others exposed to trauma, PTSD can affect daily life in profound ways. Symptoms may include intrusive memories or nightmares, hypervigilance, changes in mood, avoidance of reminders of trauma, difficulty sleeping, and challenges with concentration.

Importantly, PTSD is not just "all in your head." Trauma can create real changes in how the brain and nervous system function. The body's survival systems are designed to protect us from danger, but after repeated or overwhelming trauma, those systems can remain activated long after the threat has passed.

The good news is that **PTSD is treatable.** Evidence-based treatments can help people heal, regain a sense of control, strengthen relationships, and continue living meaningful lives.

This PTSD Awareness Month, let's challenge the stigma that keeps people silent:

💜 PTSD can affect anyone.

💜 Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

💜 Psychological injuries deserve the same compassion and treatment as physical injuries.

💜 Recovery is possible.

If you or someone you know is struggling, know that you are not alone. There is hope, there is help, and healing can happen.

**PTSD is not who you are. It is something you may experience. And recovery is possible.**

10/24/2025

09/05/2025

06/27/2025

Today is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day, so ICISF, Inc. wanted to share some resources to help you and your peers. It's crucial to understand that PTSD is a treatable condition, and support is available. Early intervention and access to mental health services can significantly improve outcomes for individuals experiencing PTSD.

Read our most recent CISM News: https://mailchi.mp/icisf.org/awareness-saves-lives

06/20/2025

There’s a lot of truth to this!

06/17/2025

❤️

06/07/2025

Other people’s bullsh*t is not your burden to carry 💥

Their moods, projections, passive-aggressive comments, or sideways energy… None of it is about you. It’s about them.

The sooner you realize this, the more peace you’ll have.

Your job is not to fix it, shrink yourself, or explain your way into being understood.

Your job is to stay grounded in our own energy, your own values, and your own peace 💚

That’s maturity. That’s power. That’s freedom.

Learn more about how you can take your power back at LetThem.com!