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My name is Jared Apperson, and I'm a paramedic. I've worked in emergency services for over 18 years, and have served in many different communities. Throughout the course of my career, I've treated thousands of patients, witnessed birth and death, and have seen all manner of horrors. A few years ago, I decided that I had finally seen enough, and left my career as a field care provider.
I have personally experienced, and seen many of my co-workers suffering from the signs and symptoms of post traumatic stress or PTSD. Recognizing that their is a significant gap in the management and treatment of PTSD in the First Responder community, I have launched a nonprofit organization.
Managing the Ghosts is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise public awareness of PTSD in the first responder community, and to provide support for first responders.
The members of the First Responder community are your local Firefighters, Police Officers, EMTs, Paramedics and 911 Dispatchers. These people selflessly help the community in times of need and are everyday heroes.
Throughout the course of the job, First Responders are subjected to a constant barrage of trauma, sickness, pain, suffering and death. They are highly trained professionals that are able to set aside emotion, take control of chaos, and utilizing their skills help to alleviate pain and suffering.
Over time, this takes its toll on the First Responder's mental health, and if not addressed can lead to depression, insomnia, alcohol abuse, and at its very worst, can lead to suicide.
Traditional counseling and therapy is not necessarily the answer, as often times, it's very difficult for a therapist to relate to the horrors of the job. We are striving to break down the barriers to the management and treatment of PTSD in the First Responder
community. Those that work in the business have forever understood the concept of “brotherhood” within the community. For most of us in this job, “we” are truly the only ones who understand what it’s like to be “us”. By recognizing that our peers are our best resources for help, we are seeking out members of the First Responder community to provide support to their brothers and sisters in-service by serving as peer counselors.
In order to establish a peer counseling network, we will need to provide training to those that are willing to serve their peers. Training is expensive, and coordinating the logistics to bring the training into the community takes time and energy.
With your help, we will be able to bring the required training into the community and will be able to establish the network necessary to help take care of those that serve their communities so well.
I cannot even begin to express my gratitude to you for taking the time to help the heroes within your communities.
I have personally experienced, and seen many of my co-workers suffering from the signs and symptoms of post traumatic stress or PTSD. Recognizing that their is a significant gap in the management and treatment of PTSD in the First Responder community, I have launched a nonprofit organization.
Managing the Ghosts is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise public awareness of PTSD in the first responder community, and to provide support for first responders.
The members of the First Responder community are your local Firefighters, Police Officers, EMTs, Paramedics and 911 Dispatchers. These people selflessly help the community in times of need and are everyday heroes.
Throughout the course of the job, First Responders are subjected to a constant barrage of trauma, sickness, pain, suffering and death. They are highly trained professionals that are able to set aside emotion, take control of chaos, and utilizing their skills help to alleviate pain and suffering.
Over time, this takes its toll on the First Responder's mental health, and if not addressed can lead to depression, insomnia, alcohol abuse, and at its very worst, can lead to suicide.
Traditional counseling and therapy is not necessarily the answer, as often times, it's very difficult for a therapist to relate to the horrors of the job. We are striving to break down the barriers to the management and treatment of PTSD in the First Responder
community. Those that work in the business have forever understood the concept of “brotherhood” within the community. For most of us in this job, “we” are truly the only ones who understand what it’s like to be “us”. By recognizing that our peers are our best resources for help, we are seeking out members of the First Responder community to provide support to their brothers and sisters in-service by serving as peer counselors.
In order to establish a peer counseling network, we will need to provide training to those that are willing to serve their peers. Training is expensive, and coordinating the logistics to bring the training into the community takes time and energy.
With your help, we will be able to bring the required training into the community and will be able to establish the network necessary to help take care of those that serve their communities so well.
I cannot even begin to express my gratitude to you for taking the time to help the heroes within your communities.