The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council was proud to offer our inaugural First Responder Mental Health Resilience Conference in October of 2022.
This exciting virtual experience provided leading-edge approaches to foster mental health resilience in first responders. The conference series ran every Thursday in October 2022 from 10:00am to 2:30pm.
Each day included a featured subject matter expert speaker and practical and applicable skills workshops specifically tailored for first responders. Conference materials are available below.
Raine Brown
Rachel Mason
From: Dr. Stephen Porges and Local First Responders Discuss Polyvagal Theory Applied to Mental Health (Oct 6, 10:15-11:45 am)
- Dr. Stephen Porges, Polyvagal Theory: A Science of Safety
- Safe and Sound Protocol
- Heart Rate Variability: A Personal Journey by Stephen Porges
- https://www.stephenporges.com/
- The Polyvagal Institute
From: Deb Dana, Polyvagal Theory in Practice (Oct 6, 12:00-1:00 pm)
- Deb Dana, A Beginner’s Guide to Polyvagal Theory
- Polyvagal Theory in Practice – slides from Deb Dana’s presentation
- For more on Deb Dana’s work, please see her website Rhythm of Regulation
From: Stephanie D’Angelo, Be the Calm in the Storm: Polyvagal-Informed Embodied Mindfulness (Oct 6, 1:30-2:30 pm)
- Stephanie D’Angelo, Polyvagal Informed Embodied Mindfulness: An Online Program
- Invitation link to free telemeditation4u Mighty Network APP
From: Rollin McCraty, Maintaining your Composure in the Midst of Chaos and Confusion (Oct 20, 10:15-11:15 am)
- Jorina Elbers and Rollin McCraty, HeartMath approach to self-regulation and psychosocial well-being
- Rollin McCraty and Mike Atkinson, Resilience Training Program Reduces Physiological and Psychological Stress in Police Officers
- Maintaining your Composure in the Midst of Chaos and Confusion presentation slides.
From: Jennifer Hart, Creating Calm in Chaos (Oct 20, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm)
- Heartmath, Depletion to Renewal Grid
- Free HeartMath Resources & Personal Wellbeing Survey
- Creating Calm in Chaos presentation slides
From: Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock, Recognizing and Addressing Moral Distress and Moral Injury in First Responders (Oct 20, 1:00-2:30 pm)
- Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock Moral Injury in First Responders presentation slides
- Wellness Self-Assessment Packet
From: Tom Greenhalgh, Enhancing My Personal and Professional Skills for Enhanced Wellness and Resiliency (Oct 27, 11:30am to 12:30pm EDT)
- For more on Tom Greenhalgh‘s work, visit the National Public Safety Solutions website: https://npssinc.org/
- MA State Peer Support Network: https://mastatepeersupportnetwork.org/
- International Critical Incident Stress Foundation: https://icisf.org/
- Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association: https://www.eagala.org/index
From: Robin Carnes, Healthy Sleep: Your #1 Resilience Skill (Oct 27, 1:00-2:00 pm)
