On Wednesday, October 23, 7-9:00 pm, the Town of Durham and the University of New Hampshire’s police departments and the Durham Fire Department will host New Hampshire Theatre Project’s Elephant-in-the-Room Series: a staged reading of the play Aftermath by Tim Barretto, focusing on Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) in First Responders. Aftermath is the story of one firefighter and how the reverberations of a tragic accident triggers his PTS and profoundly affects his life, as well as his family and colleagues.
Durham Police Chief Rene Kelley explains his support: “This presentation is timely and needed by the public safety community and their family members. As the Chief of Department, it is my responsibility to provide services to all employees to help them deal with the traumatic experiences staff members, and their families, must deal with on a regular basis. Officer wellness needs to be a priority, and I am hoping to learn how I can better serve my department members and their families.”
Both firefighters and police officers are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. Up to 44% of first responders, including dispatchers and Emergency Medical Technicians, suffer from PTS. Despite these statistics, PTS remains untreated in many cases due to stigma and a “superhero” philosophy, as well as lack of knowledge about PTS, and opportunities to get help…