# Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2022

This bill asks the federal government to create a plan for helping police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, 911 dispatchers, and other public safety workers get mental health treatment for trauma-related stress disorders. Right now, many of these workers struggle with PTSD and acute stress disorder because of the traumatic situations they encounter on the job, but most local police and fire departments don't have the resources to provide specialized mental health care. The bill recognizes that about 30 percent of public safety officers develop serious mental health problems during their careers—compared to 20 percent of the general population—and that these conditions put them at higher risk for suicide.

The main requirement is straightforward: the Attorney General has 60 days to submit a report to Congress proposing at least one federal program that would make trauma treatment available to public safety workers. This program would offer evidence-based therapy, peer support, counseling, and family support services, potentially through both in-person visits and telehealth (video appointments). The report also needs to include draft legislation to protect workers' privacy when they seek this care, explain how the program would work across different states and local areas, and estimate how much it would cost annually.

The bill doesn't actually create the program itself—it just requires the government to study the idea and come back with a detailed proposal. This is an important distinction because it means nothing changes immediately for public safety workers. However, if Congress likes the proposal, it could lead to a new federal mental health program specifically designed for the people who regularly face life-threatening and traumatic situations in their work. The bill also makes sure that Tribal public safety officers and 911 dispatchers—groups often overlooked in similar programs—would be included in any future program.

Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2022

Joyce, David P.

Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2022 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.