New York State Sheriffs’ Association President Thomas Dougherty
NYSSA Launches Health and Wellness Programs for Sheriff’s Office Personnel
The New York State Sheriffs’ Association (NYSSA) and FirstNet – Built with AT&T announce the launch of an innovative, statewide health and wellness program available to all 58 County Sheriff’s Offices in New York. The comprehensive program provides Sheriff’s Office staff with support systems to help manage stress and cope with grief, depression, anger, and other emotions that may stem from job-related stress.
Public safety service often comes with great risk and personal sacrifice. Rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, substance abuse, anxiety, and suicide among public safety and law enforcement personnel far exceed the rates of the general population. NYSSA and FirstNet – the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community — believe that all sheriffs personnel should have access to the program.
The program includes:
- New or improved Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
- A PSA campaign utilizing videos and social platforms to communicate the key message for Sheriffs’ Office personnel: “It’s ok NOT to be ok”
- Crisis and trauma training
- School Resource Officer support
- A 24/7 confidential peer-to-peer hotline staffed by deputy sheriffs and other personnel from around the state to provide early intervention and keep stress from escalating or manifesting.
