First responder workforce resiliency using the creative arts

The creative arts have become increasingly recognized as an empirically-supported workforce wellness approach for healthcare professionals (Moss et al., 2022; Tjasink et al., 2023). However, research examining the impact of the creative arts with first responders has been limited. This study is a first to explore first responders' perception on the usefulness of a creative wellness activity offered in the workplace. During the summer of 2023, first responders from a Mid-Atlantic region of the United States were invited to participate in a community poster over a two-week timeframe and to complete a 7-item questionnaire at the end of their activity participation (N = 25). Six community arts posters were created at six fire stations. The majority of participants reported experiencing stress relief or calm while contributing to the community poster (91.3%), and a sense of bonding with others (85.0%). Almost all of the participants (95.8%) said they would like to participate in more art programs in the future. The study's findings may offer preliminary support for the use of creative wellness experiences and/or workshops that could bring first responders together in meaningful ways to enhance workforce well-being.