First Responder Organization Holds Live Post-trauma Forum
ANGWIN, CALIFORNIA – May 28, 2025 – In the month of national awareness for first responders, First Responder Support Network (FRSN) holds live forum to discuss post-traumatic treatment for First Responders.
In the wake of recent wildfires, tornados, and other national disasters, thousands of first responders across the nation including firefighters, law enforcement, and emergency medical technicians (EMT) are dealing with critical incident stress related to what they endured during these disasters. While many experience personal loss themselves, others witness first-hand loss of life, great despair among entire communities, and even elevated incidents of crime. This takes a toll on first responders and often results in their inability to perform their jobs or even normal daily functions in their lives. "As a volunteer clinician, I've seen first-hand the resilience and healing we are helping to build with participants and their peer community. The impact of these retreats is profound,” said Catherine Bowen Stern, Board President.
The online LinkedIn live forum will be moderated by ABC7 Los Angeles General Assignment Reporter, Josh Haskell, who covered the recent LA fires while simultaneously trying to evacuate his own parents from the Pacific Palisades. In addition, opening remarks will be provided by California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, whose husband is a retired firefighter. The forum will feature a panel that includes first responders, peer support advocates, and a clinician that will discuss the impacts of disasters on first responders and what is being done to address the trauma that they experienced following critical incidents.
The goal of the forum is to help break down the stigma around first responders seeking help for post-trauma injuries, and to discuss what resources and peer support networks are available to them across the country. The forum can be accessed from FRSN's website at www.frsn.org.
For more than 20 years, FRSN has been a lead provider of support in helping first responders and their significant others cope with the debilitating effects of critical incident stress. They have helped more than 2,000 first responders and their significant others who have attended their trauma retreats in California, Washington, Oregon, Indiana, Arizona, and Kansas.
###
