First Responders Essay

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First responders have different challenges compared to the rest of the population. The challenges are due to the motto’s they swear to uphold and the public they serve. They have their own culture consisting of beliefs, language, traditions and values that are specific to their group. They are more likely to witness traumatic events that are outside the norm. They are sometime expected to kill and even be killed, especially law enforcement and military. The culture is very different then the civilian or mental health culture, for example: collectivism versus individualism. Therefore, when it comes to building a relationship with combat veterans and first responders it is essential to understand the culture. Lastly, there are common diagnosis among first responders making it important to use specific assessments. These assessments are used to identify trauma and stress related disorders such as: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Acute Stress Disorder (ASD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Depression, and Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
Culture
The culture of first responders such as: Combat Veterans, police officers, EMTs, Firemen, and Emergency Room staff are unique from other occupations. The reason is the magnitude first responders are …show more content…

There is also an element of subculture such as: types of unit, branch, war fighting community, and special operations (Hsu, 2010). The basic tenets of the military culture are “duty, honor, country”; discipline; hierarchy; and prioritizing group over the individual (Hsu, 2010). The military law requires members to demonstrate virtue, honor, patriotism, and subordination at all times even off duty (Hsu, 2010). The terms used to describe military life are: uniformity, anonymity, depersonalization, expendability, hard work, boredom, teamwork, camaraderie, stoicism, loneliness, trust, and orderliness (Hsu,

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