Key Features of Wellness Apps that Enhance Support for First Responders

Ken Schul

(Retired Captain, CMPD), Director, StackBench

The job of a first responder takes courage, integrity, and strength. It is for these reasons first responders need to stay on top of their health, both mentally and physically. Keeping up with doctor's appointments and health and wellness in general is no easy task. However, with Wellness App Features included in first responders apps, police, firefighters, and other emergency personnel can conveniently maintain their health and wellness. These features connect law enforcement to local health and wellness resources and educate officers and their families on mental wellness.

First Responder Wellness

First responders handle some of the most serious events and circumstances. Quite often police are called to assist citizens in extremely devastating situations. With this responsibility comes the toll of burn-out on the job, mental, and physical fatigue. If a police officer is not feeling their best, it can affect their job performance, which may affect public safety within their community. An officer who is experiencing fatigue may not be able to make quick decisions effectively and may compromise the safety of themself and their co-workers.

Being a police officer or sheriff's deputy means working unpredictable schedules and long hours. Doctor's appointments may be difficult to schedule or to keep up with. However, a first responder needs to maintain their health and wellness. After all, if a police officer experiences a tragedy while on the job such as an officer-involved shooting, it is standard protocol to have the police officer see a counselor. That being said, an officer does not have to go through an officer-involved shooting to see a counselor. This particular example is a serious one that can potentially change a police officer's life. For some officers, certain types of calls affect them more than others. When a first responder notices a call they have responded to is bothering them, it is best to seek the help of a counselor. This is because if a police officer or sheriff's deputy does not address the emotions they are experiencing it can affect their home life as well as their professional one.

It is far too easy to ignore certain feelings or to avoid discussing mental health and wellness. However, it is a topic that should never be ignored or belittled, especially when it comes to first responders. When a law enforcement officer experiences one tragic event after another, it may affect their mental well-being. If these emotions are not addressed and instead are bottled up, it can cause the officer to suffer greatly. In addition, there may come a point when the police officer cannot handle any more tragedy and they take out their emotions on themselves, their loved ones, or community members. Mental wellness is important to maintain and it is equally important to recognize any signs of mental decline. Any mental decline should be addressed immediately by a professional.

Within the last few years, there has been an increase in first responder suicides. On average there are 184 police officer suicides each year. This number is devastating which is one of many reasons law enforcement agencies should provide their personnel with health and wellness solutions. A first responder app can make it easy for a law enforcement agency to provide their officers with Police Wellness Solutions.

First responder wellness entails both physical and mental health. These go hand in hand. When a police officer is physically fit they are not only able to perform their job well, but they may also think more clearly. Likewise, being mentally fit can help a police officer maintain their physical wellness too. More police departments and sheriff's offices providing their employees with resources filled with education regarding wellness can lead to healthier officers.

Police Wellness Solutions

In addition to seeing a doctor or counselor, there are other ways law enforcement professionals can take advantage of health and wellness solutions. Peer support is one way to accomplish this. After all, who knows better what a police officer is going through than their co-workers? First Responder Wellness can also be found through a police app such as the Unified Communication Platform (UCP) from StackBench. This particular first responder app includes a health and wellness feature that offers convenient solutions to police officers. For instance, the Wellness Solutions delivered on the UCP Police and UCP Sheriff apps provide law enforcement officers with answers at their fingertips. These First Responder Wellness Solutions include health and wellness resources, videos, podcasts, and more. Each of these Wellness App Features is specifically designed for the law enforcement professional.

The Wellness Solutions offered in the UCP Police and UCP Sheriff apps also include information designed to educate law enforcement officers and their families to recognize signs of PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health problems that first responders are prone to. Law enforcement agencies that utilize an app to provide necessary information to their personnel about First Responder Wellness see the benefits. Additionally, the UCP Police and Sheriff apps are customizable so a police agency can offer local resources their law enforcement personnel can use in their community.

Wellness App Features for police officers and sheriff's deputies make it convenient for law enforcement personnel to receive the help they need. An app also allows the officer to confidentially access this information. Other First Responder Wellness features included in the UCP Police and UCP Sheriff apps from StackBench include support resources from Chaplains and peers. Law enforcement agencies can also include any additional health and wellness programs they offer their first responders.

Utilizing a law enforcement application for health and wellness is a simple solution that is easy to access and can help first responders get the help they need quietly. There is no shame in taking care of mental health, but often police personnel do not wish to let everyone know they are seeking help. By providing Police Wellness Solutions to their officers, law enforcement agencies are providing their personnel with the tools they need to better themselves and to maintain their health and wellness for their families as well as the citizens they serve.

Get a Wellness App

First Responder Wellness is key to the success of police officers and law enforcement agencies. By implementing a Wellness App Feature into a police application such as UCP Police and UCP Sheriff, law enforcement can maintain their health and wellness more effectively.

The majority of Americans have a smartphone and most of these phones have numerous applications users access daily. A police app benefits both law enforcement officers as well as the citizens they serve. The UCP Police and UCP Sheriff apps are compatible with both Android and iPhones which makes it possible for most individuals with a smartphone to use this application. A First Responder Wellness app is also budget-friendly for law enforcement agencies.

Law Enforcement is a high-stress, demanding job and more often than not, officers experience frustration, burnout, and in some instances depression. A First Responder Wellness app offers quick solutions that will help police officers keep up with their mental health. Of course, it is recommended to see a counselor or doctor as well; a police application can help officers find the right health and wellness professional for them, as well as educate them and their loved ones on how to recognize signs of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. An app makes it easy to find resources and information regarding wellness topics for first responders.

Take a look at the StackBench website today and find out more about the smartphone applications for UCP Police and UCP Sheriff. An application that includes first responder wellness features is another resource officers can use to find the help they need for physical and mental wellness. UCP Police and UCP Sheriff are excellent tools for First Responder Wellness. The ability to connect with co-workers quickly through the app is helpful and including Wellness App Features such as videos, podcasts, articles, and more regarding mental health is an effective way to keep law enforcement officers healthy. Furthermore, this category in the UCP Police and UCP Sheriff apps may be customized to suit the specific health and wellness needs of the department.

The law enforcement officer who seeks help when they need it is not only doing themselves a favor but it is beneficial to their loved ones and the public they serve. First Responder Wellness should always be a top priority for police departments and personnel. Look at the UCP Police and UCP Sheriff applications and see how these can benefit your department, your police officers, and your community today. Find out more at StackBench's website. Provide your law enforcement personnel with the tools and resources they require to stay healthy and safe.