N.J. bill would form pandemic PTSD task force for frontline workers

A bill was introduced in the New Jersey state Senate on Monday that would establish a temporary task force to study and provide recommendations on the identification and treatment of pandemic-related, post-traumatic stress disorder in first responders, health care professionals and other frontline workers.

S.B. 1766 proposes a task force of 21 members, consisting of government health officials, health care professionals specialized in the treatment of PTSD, law enforcement officers and frontline workers with personal experience with PTSD.

The duties of the task force would include evaluating the causes, estimating the current prevalence of pandemic PTSD among first responders, and identifying “new, alternative, and innovative” means and methods of diagnosing and treating pandemic PTSD in first responders, health care professionals, and other frontline workers.

The bill was referred to the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, where it is pending.