Media Highlights

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 […]

UCF RESTORES Executive Director Deborah Beidel, Ph.D., ABPP, discusses the effectiveness and importance of PTSD treatment for first responders and veterans. https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2021/12/23/tampa-bay-first-responders-open-up-about-mental-toll-of-frontline/

UCF RESTORES Executive Director Deborah Beidel, Ph.D., ABPP met with Knights Do That podcast host Alex Cumming to share her expertise on innovative PTSD treatments, her work with UCF RESTORES, and how we can better acknowledge and support veterans. Produced by UCF, the podcast highlights students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni who do incredible things […]

FOX 35 Orlando’s Nestor Mato sat down with UCF RESTORES Executive Director Deborah Beidel, Ph.D., ABPP, for a deep-dive into the program’s approach to PTSD treatment, including the use of virtual reality (VR) in evidence-based exposure therapy. The story also covers our team’s currently active clinical trials, through which we’re testing the effectiveness of our […]

UCF RESTORES was featured on Good Morning America’s third hour, highlighting our team’s commitment to providing support for those in need, especially our first responders, in the realm of PTSD and trauma-related concerns. Our team’s deployment to Surfside – during which we provided “psychological first aid” to first responders on site – was also highlighted.

Last week, our team at UCF RESTORES® deployed to Surfside to support the first responders attending to the tragic, recent building collapse. During our time at the active site, we met with hundreds of first responders from across the state, providing as-needed “psychological first aid” for these brave and selfless heroes. We were honored to […]

Last week, our team was honored to host Q McCray, an award-winning reporter with WFTV Channel 9, for the launch of RedlineRescue.org – the first-of-its-kind, no-cost, fully automated peer support portal for Florida’s first responders. Thank you to the incredible reporters that help spread the word of such important advancements for the mental health and wellbeing of […]

UCF RESTORES Executive Director Deborah Beidel, Ph.D., ABPP, shares insights related to gender-driven approaches to mental well-being, as well as how we can ease potentially stressful conversations surrounding the pandemic’s impact on mental health.

At UCF RESTORES®, we not only strongly believe in the power of peer support, we’ve witnessed it firsthand. Through REACT, our peer support training program, we’ve worked with thousands of first responders to help our front-line heroes learn how to recognize signs of emotional distress in others, offer peer-level support and effectively coordinate follow up […]