Local Washington police, fire, EMS, deputies, and dispatchers participated in a six-hour training program facilitated by Guardian Training and Consulting Services.
This training was made possible by a Iowa Municipalities Workers’ Compensation Association (IMWA) Wellness and Employee Development Safety Study Grant. This $9,000 grant was to support a comprehensive mental health and wellness initiative for the City of Washington police and fire departments.
The funding provides annual one-on-one mental health check-ins, as well as training in mental health awareness, peer support, and group critical incident stress management (CISM) debriefings. The training is designed to enhance emergency responders’ comprehension of the mental health challenges prevalent in their profession, and dispel stigmas associated with mental health and mental health support. The training included peer intervention training to aid struggling responders in accessing necessary mental health services.
Critical incidents and exposure to trauma can make a lasting toll on first responders and this grant enables a proactive approach rather than waiting until someone is in crisis.