911 Dispatchers Discuss the Impact of Mental Health on Their Job

Working as a 911 dispatcher can be emotionally taxing, as dispatchers have to talk people through traumatic experiences. Brandy Dahlin, who has been a dispatcher for 17 years, recalls a particularly difficult call when she had to help a woman give her husband CPR. Even after all these years, Dahlin still needed a moment to process the emotional toll of that experience.

Many people underestimate the stress and emotional strain that comes with being a dispatcher. Ashly Madrid-Ulrich, who has been in the role for eight years, explains that the job is nothing like what is portrayed on TV. Dispatchers deal with intense situations and topics that can deeply affect them.

Dahlin and Madrid-Ulrich emphasize the importance of coping mechanisms for dispatchers to manage work-related stress. Some turn to the gym, meditation, or therapy. Despite the challenges, they continue in their roles because of their compassion for those in need.

It can be difficult for dispatchers when people on the other end of the line forget that they are human too. Despite facing insults and misunderstandings, dispatchers strive to provide the best assistance possible.