Survey on the Psychological Well-being of First Responders

Research in Brief

Police Chief Magazine|Columns|Research in Brief|Research in Brief: The National Wellness Survey for Public Safety Personnel

Research in Brief: The National Wellness Survey for Public Safety Personnel

Michael L. Bourke, PhD, Head of Research and Development, Foundation for First Responder Wellness and Resiliency; Skylor T. Bradley, Forensic Psychology Intern, The George Washington University; and Vincent B. Van Hasselt, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University

In the United States, nearly 5 million people currently serve as professional or volunteer first responders, including police officers, emergency communication operators (ECOs), correctional officers (COs), emergency medical technicians and paramedics, and firefighters.¹

Regardless of agency or location, public safety personnel are regularly exposed to occupational stressors that tax their overall well-being and place them at a higher risk for experiencing specific psychological problems.