FD/FR family: Functional disconnection and reconnection in public safety personnel families

Abstract

This paper addresses the growing recognition of occupational stressors impacting the mental health of public safety personnel (PSP) and their families. While numerous programs support PSP well-being, limited attention is given to family members, who navigate increased worry, social isolation, and the challenge of supporting a psychologically injured spouse. Drawing from the functional disconnection/functional reconnection (FD/FR) framework, this paper introduces FD/FR family—a proactive model tailored to PSP families. Rooted in Stoicism, this innovative adaptation extends the application of FD/FR concepts to benefit not only PSP members but also their families. FD/FR family advocates temporarily setting aside personal reactions and improving emotional processing to enhance communication, flexibility, and mitigate vicarious trauma and mental health deterioration. This paper offers PSP family-specific examples and urges future research to identify essential FD/FR components accepted by both PSP and their families.