For over a decade, the attorneys at Meuser Law Office, P.A., have been fighting to help our state’s first responders get access to help for work-related mental health conditions – most prominently post-traumatic stress disorder.
We have helped hundreds of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and corrections officers obtain workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expense, wage loss, and rehabilitation benefits, as well as PERA Duty Disability pension benefits.
Over the last ten years we have slowly, but surely, seen a change in police departments regarding post-traumatic stress disorder. There’s a long way to go, but attitudes towards mental health in police departments seems to be changing. From an anecdotal perspective, there seems to be better support in departments for officers struggling with mental health issues, as well as a push for better early intervention services for officers who have experienced trauma. We are also noticing better awareness of the symptoms and causes of PTSD. Officers are looking out for each other and there is less reluctance and stigma for officers seeking help sooner. That is good news for Minnesota’s police officers.
