keywordsmental health, first responders, 911 dispatcher, peer support, PTSD, crisis intervention, public safety, coping mechanisms, resilience, community supportsummaryIn this episode of the Weight We Carry Podcast, Bart Heaney and Abbie Ellis discuss the often unseen mental health challenges faced by first responders. Abbie shares her personal journey from growing up in Harmony, North Carolina, to becoming a 911 dispatcher. She opens up about her struggles with mental health, including PTSD and anxiety, and the importance of peer support in the first responder community. The conversation emphasizes the need to break the stigma surrounding mental health and the significance of creating a supportive environment within public safety agencies.takeaways

• Abbie's upbringing in a small town shaped her work ethic.
• She transitioned from aspiring Navy corpsman to 911 dispatcher due to health issues.
• Recognizing mental health struggles is crucial for first responders.
• The hospital experience can be daunting but is a step towards recovery.
• Finding purpose and stability after a crisis is a journey.
• Coping with heavy calls is a challenge for dispatchers.
• Peer support is vital in addressing mental health in first responders.
• Breaking the stigma around mental health is essential for healing.
• Creating a supportive environment starts with leadership in agencies.
• It's important to acknowledge that you can't control everything.

• Breaking the Stigma: Mental Health in First Responders
• From Dispatcher to Advocate: Abbie's Journey

• "I don't want to be here, Mom."
• "It's okay to ask for help."
• "You can't control everything."

titlesSound BitesChapters00:00Introduction to Abby Ellis and Her Background02:10Growing Up in Harmony, North Carolina04:12Work Ethic and Early Jobs04:40Inspiration from Family and Firefighting07:03Impact of Moving on Stability09:01Involvement in ROTC and Community Service11:03Transition from Military Aspirations to Dispatching14:05Lessons from Firefighting for Dispatching16:06Struggles with Mental Health20:50Navigating Hospitalization and Recovery24:17Finding Purpose and Stability26:15Impact of Traumatic Calls on Mental Health32:03Coping Mechanisms and Peer Support36:04Peer Support and Seeking Help44:00Recognizing and Managing Burnout48:08Crisis Intervention Team: Importance and Role51:43Balancing Personal and Professional Lives56:27Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health01:01:31Creating Supportive Environments in Agencies01:05:33The Weight We Carry.mp4