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sadness

Managing Emotional and Cognitive Grief Reactions Around the Holidays

By Grief, Holidays No Comments

Strategies for emotional pain When intense grief and emotional pain is too much to manage around the holidays, consider any of the following strategies: Metaphors. Use a metaphor analogy to describe your experience. These statements can help you describe the intensity of your loss. Discover the Power of Writing: Write about your thoughts and feelings in a journal. Write poetry or a letter to the person who died. Keep a…

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dial 911

International Stress Awareness Day

By first responder stress, First Responders, Law Enforcement, Stress, work-family conflict
International Stress Awareness Day is the first Wednesday in November Would you recommend your profession to others? High stress occupations are EMT, 911 operators, military, medical, firefighters, and police officers. No matter what your job is, your reaction to stress is a risk factor for the development of depression. Mental strain can make you feel unsafe both at work and at home. If you are a first responder, you know...
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looking for a friend

Thwarted Belongingness, Perceived Burdensomeness, Hopelessness, and Cognitive Distortions for First Responders

By First Responders, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention

For all first responders whether law enforcement, emergency medical personnel or paramedics, or firefighters, there is a connection or link between thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, hopelessness, and cognitive distortions. Thwarted Belongingness According to Thomas Joiner’s interpersonal psychological theory of suicide, feeling like you don’t belong and that you are a burden can trigger suicidal thoughts. When a person lacks deep relationships with those around them, they are lonely and socially…

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law enforcement officers

Encouraging Law Enforcement to Seek Mental Health Support

By First Responders, Law Enforcement, Mental Health

LEOs are not asking for mental health support. Let’s work on changing that. Law enforcement officers (LEOs) face common mental health issues and often believe that treatment is effective, but professionally risky. They may fear a fitness for duty evaluation (FFDE) if they self-disclose that they need the help of a mental health professional. They may feel anxious about the possibility of losing their job. Masculinity within police culture can…

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police officers

How Family and Friends Can Support a First Responder’s Mental Health

By First Responders, Law Enforcement, Mental Health, Work-Life Balance

Synergy When a first responder eats healthily at home and gets eight hours sleep, and works on their physical health, their job is positively impacted.  By the same token, when they are satisfied with their job and feel supported in their role, their family life is positively impacted. Whether you are a friend or family member, you can help them find synergy in their life and impact their well-being. Synergy…

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Influential Businesswoman awards

Barbara Rubel Receives Influential Businesswoman Award

By First Responders

For the 8th year Acquisition International (AI) has hosted the Influential Businesswomen awards to celebrate all the winners and their accomplishments. Every year Acquisition International showcases the most exceptional and inspirational female business leaders from around the world by honoring and highlighting their achievements. Acquisition International is proud to announce that Barbara Rubel has been awarded: Most Influential First Responder Keynote Speaker 2023 (USA): Barbara Rubel …in the Influential Businesswoman…

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GHP Mental Health

Barbara Rubel Won a GHP Mental Health Award for the 2nd Year!

By Mental Health, Trauma Informed, Vicarious trauma

The GHP Mental Health Awards once again showcased the best of the best in the mental health industry in 2023. Their novel award approach welcomes all companies in all shapes and sizes. They do not prioritize their winners based on demographics, and instead aim to research, analyze, and shortlist all companies in this industry based on their merits. The final decisions have now been reached. From her recent nomination, they…

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law enforcement

Addressing Psychological Risks of Law Enforcement Officers: Mental Health at Work

By First Responders, Law Enforcement, Mental Health
I created a vicious trauma-approach that puts the law enforcement officer (LEO) at the center of issues related to well-being and suicide prevention. I care deeply about preventing suicide in LEOs as my father, a sergeant, died by suicide after he retired. I found meaning in his suicide by focusing on mental health, wellness and resilience in first responders. Vicarious-trauma informed practices are policies that focus on ways to lessen...
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Full time caregiver

How to Avoid Caregiver Burnout

By Burnout, Caregiving

Tips for Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others What happens when the helper does not get help? These empathetic and compassionate caregivers are struggling with burnout. The causes of burnout for caregivers are different than the causes of burnout for those in other fields, although the symptoms are very similar. Physical exhaustion is shown through their aches and pains and the need for rest. Mental exhaustion is shown through…

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