Telecommunicator Health and Wellness Challenges

Inadequate staffing, outdated technology, and high stress and burnout rates are among the challenges that continue to plague emergency communications centers (ECCs) and 911 professionals. Please join Heather McGaffin (Director, DC Office of Unified Communications), Scott Brillman (Director, 9-1-1, Fairfax County), Mark Reddish (Senior Counsel & Manager of Government Relations, APCO), Brian Fontes (CEO, NENA) and Sara Weston (Executive Director, 911der Women) for a virtual panel on May 7th at noon EDT to discuss these health and wellness issues. The panelists will discuss how staffing shortages and technological gaps in our ECCs contribute to mental health and wellness challenges and also will provide insight and solutions to address these challenges. - Staffing: Approximately 75% of ECCs do not have the budget to increase staff and more than 80% of ECCs that have a budget to increase their headcount have difficulties filling the open roles. This leads to significant mandatory and voluntary overtime for telecommunicators. - Technology: More than 75% of ECCs experienced outages and nearly 60% experienced a CAD outage - Burnout: 85% of respondents to a recent survey reported that they experience one or more symptoms of burnout, and while 95% of employers responding to the same survey provide some form of mental health support, only 44% of employees used these services.