Marquette, Michigan (WLUC) – According to the US Department of Health, 30% of first responders develop a behavioral health condition such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Work is being done to reduce these numbers. Marquette County Sheriff Greg Seibert is part of the Marquette-based Major Incident Stress Management Group. Zyburt said the group’s activities are widespread across the Upper Peninsula.
“I have been with this team for 20 years, serving not just Marquette, but every first responder agency in surrounding counties,” said Zyburt.
The group is a non-profit organization and relies on grants and community donations. It is designed to help first responders and others cope with the trauma of serious incidents at the scene, such as vehicle crashes, violence, death, and other crises.
“Sometimes people can’t eat, they can’t sleep, they have all sorts of problems in the back of their minds that affect themselves, their families and their jobs. Within a day or two. [of an incident] We have a briefing,” Seibert said.
The American Red Cross provides disaster mental health services to first responders or anyone in the field, including the UP, nationwide.
“During a disaster, we ask how people are doing and identify services such as mental health, spiritual care, health care, and recovery caseworkers,” said Cindy Kane, an American Red Cross volunteer.
Cain emphasized the importance of talking about the mental health of paramedics.
“No one can do enough to help another person. We just know that people who really care about providing help make a difference,” Kane said.
both american red cross and the Critical Incident Stress Management Group We are looking for more volunteers.
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