Blog

2023 was a landmark year for UCF RESTORES – one marked by innovation and progress. From groundbreaking advancements in virtual reality (VR) PTSD treatment to the launch of all-new training programs and peer support networks, the center continued to blaze trails in trauma treatment and first responder support. In this Director’s Cut Q&A, we sit […]

Annual Report Details Groundbreaking Advancements in Mental Health Innovation, Peer + Clinician Training, First Responder Support, and More ORLANDO, FL (March 27, 2024) – UCF RESTORES – a leading nonprofit research center and treatment clinic focused on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related concerns – today unveiled its 2023 Annual Report, showcasing a year […]

As the first point of contact for emergency situations, dispatchers are often the “forgotten” first responders. Dispatchers’ work can go unrecognized and their distress can be overlooked. This can lead to feelings of isolation while also compounding the stress associated with their unique line of work. Enter Goldline Rescue™, which recognizes the unique challenges faced […]

Confidential Platform Leverages Proven Model to Connect Dispatch Personnel with Trained Peer Supporters and Licensed Mental Health Clinicians UCF RESTORES – in its ongoing charge to support public safety first responders’ mental health and well-being – has launched Goldline Rescue, a new, no-cost, mobile peer support system designed specifically for dispatchers. Goldline Rescue joins Blueline […]

“I’m not afraid to tell you – this is what I did, and I got better… so go do it. Making the decision to seek treatment is a large step in an individual’s journey to heal, and encouragement from those around you may be the biggest motivator to follow through. Sergeant Ross Hutto from the […]

Mental Wellness Leader Deepens Commitment to First Responder Community Wellbeing with Proven, Innovative App Offering UCF RESTORES – the leading mental wellness clinic and research center for first responders in Florida and across the U.S., which includes the National Center of Excellence for First Responder Behavioral Health – has unveiled Blueline Rescue, a first-of-its-kind, mobile […]

Read on for context on the launch of Blueline Rescue; to view the supporting News 13 story, scroll to the bottom of this page. At UCF RESTORES, we’re proud to lead mental wellness research, treatment, and support efforts for first responders, both in Florida and across the United States. We know that first responders face […]

Ahead of PTSD Awareness Day 2023, UCF RESTORES Executive Director Deborah Beidel, Ph.D., ABPP was invited to join an on-air, expert panel discussion on mental health and the stigma surrounding PTSD. “What we know is that it takes a lot for people to go and ask for therapy… we need to think more about making […]

Today marks the two-year commemoration of the Champlain Towers South building collapse in Surfside, FL. In June 2021, as first responders from across the state convened on the site to navigate the mountain of rubble, retrieve survivors and recover victims, UCF RESTORES’ Critical Incident Response Team was deployed to provide psychological first aid to the […]

Welcome back to the UCF RESTORES Director’s Cut series, where we sit down with our center’s executive director Deborah Beidel, Ph.D., ABPP, to get her take on popular topics, current events and other developments shaping the national discourse around mental health and wellness. Recently, The Wall Street Journal published an online feature – “Confronting Your […]