Is More PTSD-Related Legislation Needed in Our Society?
Tags: Healthcare, First Responder, PTSD, Mental Health

By Allison G. S. Knox

Faculty Member, School of Security and Global Studies, American Public University

In the last few years, there has been a lot of discussion about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how to effectively make sure that individuals receive the mental healthcare they deserve.

In the United States, the country has rallied behind veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, but there are other individuals in society who desperately need mental health services. One of the latest discussions centers around the idea that emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters and law enforcement officers are also in need of mental healthcare.

Certainly, the Sandy Hook Massacre exemplified how critical it is for public safety personnel to receive mental healthcare. But there are other professions that require mental health services in regard to PTSD.

Healthcare Providers May Also Require PTSD-Related Treatment

Ultimately, as more individuals experience trauma in the workplace, there will be many other professions that are at risk for developing PTSD. For instance, recent studies suggest that surgeons can develop PTSD.

A recent study published in MD Edge indicates that surgeons are in need of mental health services due to the effects of PTSD. According to study author Patricia Welding, “Among 453 members of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) and Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST), 40 percent had symptoms of PTSD and 15 percent met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.”

Furthermore, if surgeons have these types of symptoms after treating patients, the people they work with — such as surgical technicians, surgical nurses and other hospital employees — will essentially be in need of mental health services, too. Many events that take place within a hospital setting are upsetting or traumatic.

The Future of PTSD Legislation

As more legislation is developed to support public safety professionals with regard to PTSD, more policies will need to be written as it becomes apparent that people employed in other professions are struggling with their mental health. Ultimately, the discussion will become part of the larger conversation where mental health services are concerned.

In the wake of a shockingly high rate of mass-casualty, active-shooter incidents, there has been more emphasis on the need for mental health services in the United States. Experts, such as Governing’s J.B. Wogan, have long noted that the U.S. mental health system is broken. Ideally, PTSD-related legislation will help more people employed in traumatic professions to obtain the mental healthcare they need.

About the Author

An emergency medical technician and a political scientist, Allison focuses on Emergency Management and Emergency Medical Services policy. Allison has taught at the undergraduate level since 2010. Prior to teaching, Allison worked in a level-one trauma center emergency department and for a member of Congress in Washington, D.C. She holds four master’s degrees in Emergency Management, National Security Studies, International Relations, and History; a Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She serves on the Board of Trustees for Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society and also serves as the Advocacy Coordinator of Virginia for the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians.