Article Highlights
- The problem: 911 telecommunicators lack social support resources
- The solution: PowerLine, an ECC app
- The benefits: Access to confidential support, improved telecommunicator well-being, and better retention
The problem: Lack of social support for telecommunicators
A 911 telecommunicator undergoes numerous stressors throughout the day, from multi-tasking while communicating with callers to supporting first responders during traumatic emergencies. For all the stress telecommunicators encounter, however, they have few opportunities to debrief with peers. Instead, telecommunicators must be on the clock throughout the vast majority of their shift as they respond to call after call.
The extreme stress and traumatizing situations that 911 telecommunicators face every day can wreak havoc on mental health. Many emergency communications centers aren’t readily equipped to provide adequate mental health resources, exacerbating these issues. Lack of support can lead telecommunicators to feel undervalued and unheard by their employer.
Employees who don’t receive wellness resources suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and burnout, and often take more and more time off work to recover – or they quit altogether. In other words, if your agency doesn’t provide proper outlets for 911 telecommunicator stress management, you’re bound to encounter issues with low retention and understaffing. All of this impedes your ability to provide the high-quality emergency services that your partners and community expect.
The solution: An app for emergency communication centers
PowerDMS’s ECC app, PowerLine, offers the social support resources that your employees need. This employee wellness app gives 911 telecommunicators access to wellness support groups and resources anytime, anywhere.
Nationwide network of support
More specifically, telecommunicators can use PowerLine to access a nationwide network of volunteer peers. Each topic-specific wellness support group and 1-on-1 meeting allows telecommunicators to have open conversations and receive anonymous support from individuals outside their agency who have faced similar challenges. Our partnership with professional clinicians also provides peer volunteers with training and access to an escalation resource in case they encounter suicide warning signs.
Complete wellness resources
Your agency can also include direct, in-app access to services you’ve already established, including local peer volunteers, clergy, and vetted therapists. In addition to social support, telecommunicators have 24/7 access to an extensive resource library that contains videos, articles, and audio content built exclusively around the challenges they’re facing in their professional and personal lives.
Full user confidentiality
The best part is that telecommunicators don’t need to worry about negative repercussions from using this mental wellness app. PowerDMS’s ECC app provides completely anonymous access, so there’s never a risk of public disclosure or activity being reported to supervisors. Even peer conversations and group sessions are kept anonymous with the help of confidential video and screen names.
The benefits of employee wellness software
The PowerLine app for emergency communication centers ensures telecommunicators have access to mental health and social support resources before they’re in crisis. Plus, full anonymity allows telecommunicators to feel comfortable getting the support they need without judgment.
By talking through their struggles with peers who get it, telecommunicators can feel heard, understood, and supported by your agency. All of this means a reduced 911 burnout rate and improved well-being, mental health, and retention at your agency.
Learn more
If you’re ready to provide better social support to telecommunicators, schedule a no-obligation demo today to learn how PowerDMS’s ECC app, PowerLine, can help.