Dispatchers emphasize peer support and debriefing after traumatic calls

Aug 31, 2026

Roanoke County dispatch staff described routine debriefings, critical-incident stress management training and peer check-ins to help manage stress from difficult 911 calls.

The full story

Several dispatchers described the mental-health supports used after difficult calls: routine incident debriefings, cross-agency meetings with fire and police, and internal check-ins. "We also do incident debriefing sometimes depending on the call for every agency," said Dispatcher 8, noting that debriefs can include multiple responding agencies.

Free newsletter

Sign up to keep reading.

Your free newsletter brings you what your city council, county, and school board discussed and decided.

or
Already have an account? Sign in