Rogers Behavioral Health, Oconomowoc, 2024 Community Benefits
Assessing First Responder Mental Health
First responders face unique stressors, including exposure to traumatic incidents, long and irregular work hours, disrupted sleep, and the potential for significant physical and emotional strain. These factors contribute to elevated risk for conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, and suicidal ideation.
Since 2020, Rogers Research Center has partnered with the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation (PFFWCF) to administer a mental health needs assessment survey to professional and volunteer fire and EMS professionals across Wisconsin. The survey examines the impact of on-the-job critical stress and potential behavioral health consequences that arise as a result. The anonymous survey considers community type, role, professional status, work schedule, sex, years of service, critical incidents or traumatic events experienced, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, sleep issues, substance use, utilization of mental health services, and perceptions about mental health stigma in the field.
In 2022, the survey was expanded to include an optional Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) questionnaire that measures compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. More than half of participants opted to complete the ProQOL for the past two years, resulting in one of the largest samples of firefighters to have been assessed using this tool.
This year, the survey is expanding to include law enforcement respondents, and Rogers Research Center will continue to work alongside the Firefighters’ foundation in the collection and analysis of the survey data to help support advocacy, prevention, and intervention strategies to combat the mental health challenges of first responders across Wisconsin. Entering its fifth year, survey participation continues to grow and provides a clearer picture of the prevalence of these challenges, progress toward reducing the stigma of mental health burdens in first responders, and the effectiveness and utilization of peer support and employee assistance program resources.
Since 2020, Rogers Research Center has partnered with the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation (PFFWCF) to administer a mental health needs assessment survey to professional and volunteer fire and EMS professionals across Wisconsin. The survey examines the impact of on-the-job critical stress and potential behavioral health consequences that arise as a result. The anonymous survey considers community type, role, professional status, work schedule, sex, years of service, critical incidents or traumatic events experienced, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, sleep issues, substance use, utilization of mental health services, and perceptions about mental health stigma in the field.
In 2022, the survey was expanded to include an optional Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) questionnaire that measures compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. More than half of participants opted to complete the ProQOL for the past two years, resulting in one of the largest samples of firefighters to have been assessed using this tool.
This year, the survey is expanding to include law enforcement respondents, and Rogers Research Center will continue to work alongside the Firefighters’ foundation in the collection and analysis of the survey data to help support advocacy, prevention, and intervention strategies to combat the mental health challenges of first responders across Wisconsin. Entering its fifth year, survey participation continues to grow and provides a clearer picture of the prevalence of these challenges, progress toward reducing the stigma of mental health burdens in first responders, and the effectiveness and utilization of peer support and employee assistance program resources.
Bringing More Psychologists into the Workforce, Rogers Behavioral Health’s APA-Approved Internship Program Grows
Rogers Behavioral Health’s American Psychological Association (APA)-approved Doctoral Psychology Internship program is growing, equipping more psychologists with the skills they need to be successful in the workforce.
Such programs are the culminating set of clinical experiences for a doctoral student’s graduate program, serving as a gatekeeper function to the psychology profession. The interns have built-in trainings and supervision to assure the graduating doctoral clinicians will be able to provide solid treatment in the mental health field.
“Rogers has a strong team of psychologists who are dedicated to providing our interns with a high-quality experience,” says Nancy Goranson, PsyD, director of training for the program. “Our internship also places a high value on the importance of giving to and immersing in the communities where they live and work.”
Rogers advocates for interns to give back to the community, and they have done so through collaborations with area organizations such as Walkers Point, Meta House, Pewaukee School District, and Carroll University.
Interns also bring experience and current knowledge of scientific literature to the team, contributing to improved patient care. In their daily full-time work, interns provide direct patient care, complete assessments and consultations, and participate in projects and committees.
Seven doctoral psychology interns made up Rogers’ most recent cohort. Rogers began the program in 2010 with three interns. Since then, Rogers has guided 72 interns from across the US and Canada, with 23 who stayed with Rogers and 12 holding various supervisory positions. Former interns have also gone on to work in primary care medical centers, corrections facilities, private practice, and other not-for-profits.
Such programs are the culminating set of clinical experiences for a doctoral student’s graduate program, serving as a gatekeeper function to the psychology profession. The interns have built-in trainings and supervision to assure the graduating doctoral clinicians will be able to provide solid treatment in the mental health field.
“Rogers has a strong team of psychologists who are dedicated to providing our interns with a high-quality experience,” says Nancy Goranson, PsyD, director of training for the program. “Our internship also places a high value on the importance of giving to and immersing in the communities where they live and work.”
Rogers advocates for interns to give back to the community, and they have done so through collaborations with area organizations such as Walkers Point, Meta House, Pewaukee School District, and Carroll University.
Interns also bring experience and current knowledge of scientific literature to the team, contributing to improved patient care. In their daily full-time work, interns provide direct patient care, complete assessments and consultations, and participate in projects and committees.
Seven doctoral psychology interns made up Rogers’ most recent cohort. Rogers began the program in 2010 with three interns. Since then, Rogers has guided 72 interns from across the US and Canada, with 23 who stayed with Rogers and 12 holding various supervisory positions. Former interns have also gone on to work in primary care medical centers, corrections facilities, private practice, and other not-for-profits.
