|
lists of all available resources to training manuals and |
continuing education requirements. |
(b) Task Force members shall recommend agencies and |
organizations sponsor or facilitate first responders with |
specialized training in the areas of psychological fitness, |
depressive disorders, early detection, and mitigation best |
practices. Such trainings could be accomplished by: |
(1) Assigning, appointing, or designating one member |
of an agency or organization to attend specialized |
training(s) sponsored by an accredited agency, |
association, or organization recognized in their fields of |
study. |
(2) Seeking sponsorships or conducting fund-raisers, |
to host annual or semiannual on-site visits from qualified |
clinicians or physicians to provide early detection |
training techniques, or to provide regular access to |
mental health professionals. |
(3) Requiring a minimum number of hours of disorders |
and wellness training be incorporated into reoccurring, |
annual or biannual training standards, examinations, and |
curriculums, taking into close consideration respective |
agency or organization size, frequency and number of all |
current federal and state mandatory examinations and |
trainings expected respectively. |
(4) Not underestimating the crucial importance of a |
balanced diet, sleep, mindfulness-based stress reduction |
|
techniques, moderate and vigorous intensity activities, |
and recreational hobbies, which have been scientifically |
proven to play a major role in brain health and mental |
wellness. |
(c) Task Force members shall recommend that administrators |
and leadership personnel solicit training services from |
evidence-based, data driven organizations. Organizations with |
personnel trained on the analytical review and interpretation |
of specific fields related to the nature of first responders' |
exploits, such as PTSD, substance abuse, chronic state of |
duress. Task Force members shall further recommend funding for |
expansion and messaging campaigns of preliminary |
self-diagnosing technologies like the one described above. |
These objectives could be met by: |
(1) Contacting an accredited agency, association, or |
organization recognized in the field or fields of specific |
study. Unbeknownst to the majority, many of the agencies |
and organizations listed above receive grants and |
allocations to assist communities with the very issues |
being discussed in this Section. |
(2) Normalizing help-seeking behaviors for both first |
responders and their families through regular messaging |
and peer support outreach, beginning with academy |
curricula and continuing education throughout individuals' |
careers. |
(3) Funding and implementing PSA campaigns that |
|
provide clear and concise calls to action about mental |
health and wellness, resiliency, help-seeking, treatment |
and recovery. |
(4) Promoting and raising awareness of non-for-profit |
organizations currently available to assist individuals in |
search of care and treatment. Organizations have intuitive |
user-friendly sites, most of which have mobile |
applications, so first responders can access at a moment's |
notice. However, because of limited funds, these |
organizations have a challenging time of getting the word |
out there about their existence. |
(5) Expanding Family and Medical Leave Act protections |
for individuals voluntarily seeking preventative |
treatment. |
(6) Promoting and ensuring complete patient |
confidentiality protections. |
(d) Task Force members shall recommend that agencies and |
organizations incorporate the following training components |
into already existing modules and educational curriculums. |
Doing so could be done by: |
(1) Bolstering academy and school curricula by |
requiring depressive disorder training catered to PTSD, |
substance abuse, and early detection techniques training, |
taking into close consideration respective agency or |
organization size, and the frequency and number of all |
current federal and state mandatory examinations and |
|
trainings expected respectively. |
(2) Continuing to allocate or match federal and state |
funds to maintain Mobil Training Units (MTUs). |
(3) Incorporating a state certificate for peer support |
training into already exiting statewide curriculums and |
mandatory examinations, annual State Fire Marshal |
examinations, and physical fitness examinations. The |
subject matter of the certificate should have an emphasis |
on mental health and wellness, as well as familiarization |
with topics ranging from clinical social work, clinical |
psychology, clinical behaviorist, and clinical psychiatry. |
(4) Incorporating and performing statewide mental |
health check-ins during the same times as already mandated |
trainings. These checks are not to be compared or used as |
measures of fitness for duty evaluations or structured |
psychological examinations. |
(5) Recommending comprehensive and evidence-based |
training on the importance of preventative measures on the |
topics of sleep, nutrition, mindfulness, and physical |
movement. |
(6) Law enforcement agencies should provide training |
on the Firearm Owner's Identification Card Act, including |
seeking relief from the Illinois State Police under |
Section 10 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act |
and a FOID card being a continued condition of employment |
under Section 7.2 of the Uniform Peace Officers' |
