PTSD911

First Responders sign up to serve; they risk their lives and their mental health to respond to someone’s worst day.

Who will rescue them?

PTSD911 is a powerful new documentary film that tells this story from first hand accounts with first responders themselves.

Upcoming Screening Events

Jun 11	Mt. Gilead, OH	Capitol Theater	CALL
Jun 11	Scottsbluff, NE	Midwest Theater	TICKETS
Jun 19	Omaha, NE	Reality Church, Papillion, NE	TICKETS
Jun 23	Des Moines, IA	Reach Church	TICKETS
Jun 24	Garland, TX	The Historic Plaza Theater	TICKETS
Jun 26	Quad Cities	Putnam Museum	TICKETS
Jun 27	Peoria, IL	First United Methodist Church	TICKETS
Jun 30	Indianapolis, IN	Faith Church	TICKETS
Jul 03	Cincinnati, OH (Film Screening Event)		COMING SOON
Jul 08	Wheeling WV	Towngate Theater	TICKETS
Jul 09	Pittsburgh, PA	Chartiers Valley High School	TICKETS
Jul 13	Frederick County, MD	Mt. Saint Mary’s University	TICKETS
Jul 15	Westminster, MD	Carroll Community College	TICKETS
Jul 16	Havre de Grace, MD	State Theater	TICKETS
Jul 21	Ocean City, MD		TICKETS

Event not on the Coast to Coast Tour

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT PTSD911

“Wow! Wow! Wow! The emotion, vulnerability, and reality of what you captured was astounding. You could feel it in the theatre last night.”

Samantha Horwitz
A Badge of Honor Podcast

“Thank you for the care with which you told this story. It was very moving and impactful. All in our community need to see it, including decision makers.”

Monica Million
Past President, National Emergency Number Association

“The PTSD911 documentary film made me both cry and cheer. It shares the poignant true stories of first responders from across the nation who have suffered—often silently—with PTSD due to their regularly stepping into other people’s nightmare moments.”

Deborah Morris
Mayor Pro Tem, City of Garland, TX

“The film is terrific. The energy blossomed. Conrad, you created exactly what you described in our very first conversation. No, actually, you exceeded those expectations, by far.”

Rick Barton
Executive Director, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation

18-24%of Dispatchers suffer from PTSD*

*Dr. Michelle Lilly

35% of Police Officers suffer from PTSD*

*The Ruderman White Paper on Mental Health and Suicide of First Responders

37% of Fire and EMS Professionals have contemplated suicide*

*SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center Supplemental Research Bulletin First Responders: Behavioral Health Concerns, Emergency Response, and Trauma

ABOUT THE FILM

LOGLINE

First Responders sign up to serve; they risk their lives and their mental health to respond to someone’s worst day. Who will rescue them?

PTSD911 is a documentary film about real people: normal, average human beings who have chosen to work in professions that require above average heroism, fortitude, and resolve. These men and women have jobs that require a willingness to face things that most of us can’t even imagine, yet maintain a high level of dignity and professionalism. First responders in fact repeatedly see and experience things that most of us will never see, causing compound issues related to post-traumatic stress injuries and disorders.

“We expect them to show up when we call and take care of us when we’re at our worst!” – Conrad Weaver

They show up, no matter what. Heroes, yes! Yet they are human beings just like the rest of us with families, husbands, wives, children, brothers, sisters, and parents. They are firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and 911 dispatchers. They are first responders.

TOPIC SUMMARY

There could not be a more urgent time to make this film. Emergency responders are out in the field dealing with extreme social unrest, the COVID-19 pandemic, the continuing opioid epidemic (which has worsened during the pandemic), on top of all of their other catastrophic calls- hostage situations, motor vehicle accidents, rapes, murders, building fires, response to hurricanes and wildfires, and the list goes on. At the present time, suicides among emergency responders are greater in number than those who perish in line of duty. At this time of such national crisis, we need our first responders! We need to have trained people who can come to our aid, in our time of need. AND, they need to be healthy in order to best help each citizen in need.

PTSD911 will provide information about a path forward from PTSD that does not lead to suicide, but rather leads to return to a fulfilling life that involves serving others. Fire, Police, EMS, and 911 operators all came into their respective professions to help others. They want nothing more than to be able to return whole to their jobs. But, in the circumstance of PTSD, help is needed for healing. Department leaders need to develop programs and policies to help their members. This takes education and awareness, which PTSD911 will provide. Also, the responders need to know there is help available, which will be another critically important message in this film.

GOALS FOR THE FILM

Raise Awareness

We must help the general population understand the issue. Most civilians don’t know or understand the issue of post traumatic stress in first responders. The average citizen does not understand the depth of this issue, and they need to know. The goal is to educate the viewer and stimulate change in people’s behavior and attitudes toward our nation’s first responders. The producers feel first responders are heroes who not only deserve applause, but also deserve to have access to the support networks that can help mitigate ongoing stress that trauma can bring. The initiative is to help people understand the urgency of this situation, and motivate individuals, organizations, and communities to be proactive in providing support and resources to help all first responders work and live a healthy and productive life both in their professional and personal lives.

End the Stigma

To help first responders realize it’s okay to ask for help. The case studies featured in the film will depict individuals and agencies who are helping their members realize it it ok to raise one’s hand and ask for help. The producer’s goal is to make it ok to not be ok and to ask for help.

Inspire Systemic Change

No one should get fired just because they are struggling with the traumas they have faced, and have asked for help. The filmmakers want agency leaders to learn how they can implement healthy changes and training within their departments so their members get the mental health help they need and can continue to be productive in their public service to our communities.

BOARD OF ADVISORS

Our board of advisors is made up of professionals from all areas of emergency response: Fire, Law Enforcement, Medics, 911 Dispatchers, and more. They provide critical feedback and help us tell a clear and accurate story as we produce our film.