Bill Overview
Title: Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the Department of Justice to report on one or more proposed programs to make treatment or preventative care available to public safety officers and public safety telecommunicators for job-related post-traumatic stress disorder or acute stress disorder. The report must also include draft legislative language related to each proposed program, as well as the estimated cost for administering each proposed program.
Sponsors: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Target Audience
Population: Public safety officers and telecommunicators
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The bill is focused on addressing PTSD and acute stress disorder specifically within the public safety sector.
- The target population therefore consists primarily of public safety officers, which includes individuals such as police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders.
- Public safety telecommunicators, such as 911 dispatchers, are also explicitly mentioned and therefore included in the target population.
- This population is expected to have higher exposure to traumatic events due to the nature of their work, which justifies the need for targeted PTSD interventions.
- Globally, different countries employ varying numbers of public safety officers, with higher figures generally observed in more populous countries.
Reasoning
- The policy targets public safety workers who have higher job-related stress exposure, which increases the risk of PTSD. The main beneficiaries are expected to be those in direct, high-stress roles like police officers and firefighters, along with 911 dispatchers.
- The policy is limited by a relatively small budget compared to the size of the target population, so it's realistic to assume that only a fraction of those affected by PTSD will receive immediate benefits in Year 1.
- Long-term impacts may increase as awareness and availability of services improve.
- There will be no impact for those public safety workers who do not experience acute or post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Different geographic and demographic groups within the public safety system might experience varying levels of impact based on proximity and exposure to high-risk situations.
Simulated Interviews
Firefighter (New York City, NY)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could be a lifeline for many of us who have been through difficult events on the job.
- Having access to tailored mental health services will definitely help me cope better in the long run.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Police officer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The additional support through this policy might encourage more officers to seek help when needed.
- Personally, I feel it adds an extra layer of security, knowing there are resources available.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
EMT (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The implementation of this policy could be a turning point for my mental health.
- I’ve been struggling to find adequate support, and this could greatly improve my situation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
911 Dispatcher (Houston, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to mental health resources is crucial, especially when facing the continuous stress my job entails.
- It could benefit me, although I don't see immediate need, but it's reassuring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Firefighter (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My concerns more about immediate retirement support, but this policy may guide others to help faster.
- It’s a step in the right direction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Police officer (Detroit, MI)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see potential benefits, but awareness programs need to accompany the policy to ensure officers take advantage.
- I hope it helps lessen the stigma around seeking mental health treatment among my colleagues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
911 Dispatcher (Miami, FL)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Currently, I don’t find myself needing these services, but it’s good to know they’re available for my colleagues who do.
- Looking forward, it might be something I lean on if the job becomes more stressful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
EMT (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Peer support is invaluable; expanding mental health services will only strengthen that.
- It’s a promising policy, but I feel we need more budget allocation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired Police Officer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I wish this policy was around when I was actively serving; it might have saved me a lot of personal hardship.
- A hopeful sign for current law enforcement folks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Emergency Medical Technician (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I manage well, knowing there’s structured support elevates team morale.
- Over time, I think it will encourage more open discussions around mental health in our field.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The focus is on the administrative costs related to the drafting of reports and legislative proposals.
- All program implementation and associated costs are deferred until after the reporting requirement is completed and assessed.
- There is significant variability in potential costs due to possible changes in the scope of proposed programs reported.