Founder and CEO, Dennis Carradin discussed how The Trauma Survivor Foundation gives survivors of traumatic events access to a network of trained trauma therapists to help restore a sense of normalcy and to gain hope.  Based on his own field experience he realized that many survivors lacked ‘follow up,’ they were still experiencing the effects of the trauma without the opportunity for therapy or the ability to build coping skills, they were left to navigate mental health resources on their own.

We discussed the definition of trauma and discussed who is affected, from first responders on the scene, to children watching news school shootings in the media.  Through the foundation survivors have been connected to resources, education, and training to aid their recovery through a vast network of TSF providers, have provided thousands of trauma survivors.  Since the beginning of the Foundation over 30,000 survivors of various traumatic events: mass shootings, natural disasters, line of duty deaths, motor vehicle collisions, sexual abuse or assault, physical abuse or assault, emotional abuse or psychological maltreatment, accidents, illnesses, medical procedures, neglect, victim, or witness to violence were helped through crisis intervention by over 2,500 trained trauma therapists and crisis interventionists participating. 

Mr Carradin also discussed ways of preventing stress, through therapy, peer interaction and open discussion and recognition of traumas causes.  Peer support and wellness programs in the public safety communities have been proven to reduce the onset and incidence of post-traumatic stress, career cumulative stress, burnout, and the myriad physical symptoms caused by them.  Peer support programs have also been shown to be effective in reducing early retirement or resignation, suicide rates, uses of unreasonable force, substance use disorders, and disciplinary issues in first responder populations.

We discussed the current pandemic’s effects on hospital and health care workers and his Hospital Heroes Food Drive, so far providing over 30,000 meals delivered to nurses, doctors, EMS, police, and firefighters working on the front line of the war against Covid-19.  They have partnered with 100 restaurants to deliver the meals across the region, and are looking for individual and business support to keep the program running.  Write that check, he asks!

Learn more at TraumaSurvivorsFoundation.org

HospitalHeroesFoodDrive.org