Head space: dealing with trauma

Officers and other first responders are remarkably resilient people and the use of formal interventions too early after critical incidents may have worse outcomes than doing nothing, warns specialist police psychologist Dr Tracy Lavis.

Comparatively low rates of mental health problems were experienced by rescue workers after the 9/11 attacks on New York

Police officers and staff are routinely exposed to trauma through their work. This can be direct exposure as first responders to traumatic events they attend personally or indirect exposure such as working with distraught victims after the incident...