YOU are not alone…

About one in five people experience a mental health issue in any given year, and the extraordinary stressors that first responders face boost that risk.

Trauma is a normal human response to an abnormal situation. Understanding this allows you to move from a mindset of “What’s wrong with me?” to a more empowering, “This is what’s going on with me.”

Trauma is better understood as an injury to the brain rather than an illness. Left unaddressed, however, that injury can lead to illnesses such as depression and anxiety.

What YOU can do…

You can help build resilience to trauma exposure by working on your connections with others. The more supportive, caring, trustworthy people you have in your life, the more able you are to cope with the experiences that can lead to trauma. Also learning coping mechanisms and skills in managing feelings, improving communication and self-expression, and addressing stress can be extremely helpful.