Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | December 6, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 21 First responder mental health V I E W P O I N T E D I T O R I A L N ot many people can understand or empathize with the things first responders encounter during an emergency or even on a daily basis. Public safety service comes with great personal sacrifice, and first responders silently carry the burden. Trauma can be difficult to discuss with others. First responders are dedicated to protecting others and oen put themselves at the bottom of the priority list. Oct. 28 marked National First Re- sponders Day, an opportunity to honor the service and sacrifices made by the women and men of our public safety community. At the same time, National First Responders Day helps shed light on the challenges Massachusetts' first responders face. People don't call 9-1-1 because they're having a good day. And those experiences, those images stay rooted in the mind and take a toll. Compared to the general population, first responders experience higher rates of depression, post-traumatic stress, burnout, and anxiety. And in law enforcement, the life expectancy is more than 20 years shorter than the average American male. Stress can be a protective factor in the face of life-threatening events, but too many first responders go on to internalize and ignore traumatic experiences. ese staggering statistics are just a few of the reasons why AT&T established the FirstNet Health & Wellness Coalition. is effort brings together more than two dozen member organizations to represent more than 1.3 million first responders, and its priorities were developed from the input of more than 350 first responders. FirstNet, AT&T's public safety nationwide network created for first responders, works closely with the wom- en and men on the front lines and recognizes the need for a diverse array of services, tools and resources. e coalition led to us enlisting some furry friends for help. rough the FirstNet Response Operations Group, we launched the ROG the Dog animal-assisted therapy initiative earlier this year. More than 30 therapy animals are stationed across the country, with one based outside of Worcester, specifically trained to support the health and well-being of first responders. To date, more than 2,500 first responders in the field have interacted with ROG the Dog. Interacting with animals can improve coping and recovery, enhance morale, decrease stress, and reduce the effects of PTSD and emotional distress. Resources exist to improve coping and recovery, enhance morale, decrease stress, and reduce emotional distress. For chiefs, administrators and agency heads, it is never too late to institute departmental initiatives and trainings to support the health and wellness. Raising awareness and highlighting the challenges are critical steps toward changing the stigma around first responder mental health. Seeking help and creating an open environment to encourage conversation can increase resiliency, help build better working environ- ments, safer departments, and healthier individuals. Dr. Anna Courie is the director of responder wellness for the FirstNet Program at AT&T. BY DR. ANNA COURIE Special to the Worcester Business Journal The above Editorial is the opinion of the WBJ Editorial Board. The Viewpoint column, the A Thousand Words cartoon, and the Word from the Web commentary represent the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of WBJ or its staff. WBJ welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Send them to bkane@wbjournal.com. A T H O U SA N D WO R D S B Y R A M Ó N L . S A N D O V A L Adapt or die Dr. Anna Courie I f the coronavirus pandemic has taught the Central Massachusetts business communi- ty anything, it is the need for owners and executives to stay on their toes, don't panic, act decisively, and take advantage of new opportu- nities as the landscape shis. Many businesses have new issues to navigate with their customers, their workforce, their suppliers, and their investors they never would have imagined two years ago. e sudden shutdown when the pandemic arrived in March 2020 filled businesses with fear, as the unknown nature of the virus and a slamming of the brakes caused a global economic slowdown, where significant layoffs felt inevitable. Luckily, the $792-billion Paycheck Protection Program and other federal government efforts to help businesses stay afloat were introduced quickly enough to stave off a significant number of layoffs as businesses big and small grabbed for that lifeline. Since then, it's been a mixed bag, with many businesses thriving, while others continue to struggle. Since those early days it has become clear that suc- cessful organizations have leaned into the moment and embraced change, and in this edition of WBJ we talk to several of those who made the big pivot. In the cover feature "e evolving world of Christmas tree farms" by Monica Benevides on page 10, farmers around Central Massachusetts are figuring out how to meet the new demand for their products, which can take up to 10 years to grow. eir customer base has become younger and more urban, and farms are now offering more of a holiday experience while they prepare for an expanded future. In the "$15M expansion" story by Katherine Hamilton on page 6, Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston is fulfilling a plan started six years ago, when the attraction began to experience spiking attendance. e plan centers around a new children's garden to bring in a new type of customer, those who haven't gone to gardens on a regular basis. In the "Biotech's diversity prob- lems" story by Benevides on page 8, the life sciences industry isn't so focused on its customer base, as it is seeking to turn 2020's diversity, equity, and inclu- sion pledges into full-blown realities for employees and leaders at their companies. Progress has been painfully slow, although nearly all agree on the need to keep moving forward. Finally, the "Rising from the ashes" story by Sloane M. Perron on page 12, highlights people who were laid off during the pan- demic or otherwise inspired to go their own way, and are starting new businesses, seeking to have greater control over their professional lives. e last two years have been a rough ride, and just when we'd like to see the horizon clearing, the chop- py seas remain. Surge aer surge of the coronavirus are beginning to feel like a Groundhog Day moment, with our exit still unclear. Yet, the pandemic and all its effects have simply heightened a long-held business truth: adapt and innovate, or you'll become obsolete. W W

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