Join us for an interactive town hall style event in support of the first responder community.

Together, we can collaboratively identify ways the first responder community can help guide our important research and advocacy programs and help move the research forward in a meaningful direction.

Free parking is available and lunch will be provided.

Objectives:

• Learn more from the first responder community about how these conditions specifically affect them.
• Raise awareness about CVB’s research and advocacy efforts and how our success will ultimately benefit the first responder community.
• Brainstorm ways our two groups can work together to overcome these challenges and ensure better outcomes for all first responders.

Background:

First responders understand the unique physical and environmental hazards associated with being on the front line of disasters and emergencies.

Recent research has shown that the long hours, poor sleep quality and mental strain of repeated exposure to high stress situations on the job can take a toll on the mental health and well being of these essential workers. As a result, many first responders experience higher rates of health-related outcomes such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, conditions collectively referred to as the “invisible wounds”. Moreover, it was recently reported that more firefighters and police officers are dying by suicide than in the line of duty. Yet awareness of the potential long-term mental health consequences of job-related stress exposure and their association with suicide remains limited among first responders and gaps in the current scientific research have left many waiting for more effective treatments for these invisible wounds.

Leading the discussion will be Dr. Chantelle Ferland-Beckham (Senior Director for External Affairs, Cohen Veterans Bioscience) and Frank Larkin (Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Cohen Veterans Bioscience).

Dr. Ferland-Beckham is a neuroscientist and public policy expert as well as a former first responder, having served as a paramedic in the Greater Boston area for nearly 6 years.

Mr. Larkin is a US Navy Veteran, having  served as a special warfare operator in the Navy SEALs. After his Navy service, he was a uniformed patrol officer with the Norristown (PA) Police Department, a homicide detective with the Montgomery County (PA) District Attorney’s Office, and a Maryland State Trooper-Flight Paramedic. He also spent two decades with the US Secret Service and was the United States Senate Sergeant at Arms (SAA), the Chief law enforcement officer for the United States Senate.

CVB’s Approach: 

Cohen Veterans Bioscience (CVB) is the only non-profit research organization that is specifically targeting
these research gaps to improve outcomes for all individuals effected by the invisible wounds, including first responders. However, our research can only be successful when we work in partnership with those most effected by the conditions we aim to treat.