Dispatcher Mental Health Crisis Response Survey Part One

The vision of Alabama Fellowship of Fire Chaplains (AFFC) is to have a trained chaplain in every fire department available to every first responder and their family, 24/7, providing spiritual and emotional support for their overall mental health and wellness. However, among first responders, one group that is constantly overlooked and underserved is our public safety telecommunicators.


This is where you come in. We strive to serve each public safety telecommunicator, whether you're a call taker or dispatcher with fire or police. By participating in this survey, you can help pinpoint exactly what is needed in your field and at your desk. Not every first responder's stressors and needs are the same, and public safety telecommunicators have unique and equally important needs. 








SECTION 1 – GENERAL INFORMATION




SECTION 2 – CALL HANDLING 


A dispatcher’s ability to identify a mental health crisis early and deploy the right resources can prevent escalation and improve safety. The same can be said about a dispatcher’s hindsight.




SECTION 3 – COMMUNICATION & COORDINATION


Effective coordination can save lives. Dispatchers are the central hub for information between callers, fellow first responders, and other agencies, yet they rarely receive the same courtesy. A few key initiatives have been suggested: 

  • Access to mental health resources 
  • Proactive chaplain program that makes regular check-ins for wellness and stress reduction.
  • Chaplaincy network for information sharing between police, fire, paramedics, EMS, emergency room, and other agency chaplains. 
  • Training and Education on vicarious trauma, stress recognition, and coping strategies during onboarding and throughout their careers.
  • Adequate staffing and breaks to reduce chronic stress and opportunities for recovery.
  • Post-Incident Debriefing Protocols after critical incidents, ensuring dispatchers have a structured way to process and offload their emotional burden.