This is an article by Bridgett Clark, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 17, 2025.
Public safety professionals—including emergency communications specialists—face daily exposure to trauma, often without acknowledgment. However, the very systems built to safeguard the larger community frequently fail to safeguard their own.
Through the example of telecommunicators, learn about mental health care needs across the public safety community and about a free training resource to help address these needs.
Bridgett Clark
Bridgett Clark is the communications supervisor and public information officer for the Wilson County Emergency Communication District in Tennessee. She holds a B.S. in emergency services management from Bethel University and an M.S. in homeland security with an emphasis in emergency services management from Columbia Southern University, where she is currently pursuing her doctorate in emergency management. Bridgett is a NENA-certified Center Supervisor, a graduate of the Center Manager Certification Program, and an APCO-certified Communications Training Officer. She currently serves on APCO’s Health and Wellness Committee and is a frequent contributor to national initiatives that promote well-being in emergency communications. As a dedicated advocate for mental health in public safety, Bridgett serves on the Wilson County Crisis Intervention Teams Task Force and teaches crisis intervention team training to both emergency communications specialists and law enforcement professionals, helping to foster resilience and awareness throughout the emergency response community. Recognizing the gap in access to critical stress management resources, Bridgett is actively developing free, scalable training materials to help ensure that no public safety professional is left without the tools to cope, recover, and thrive.
