First Responder Resources

First Responder Resources

You don’t have to navigate this alone. Whether you’re struggling yourself, concerned about someone you love, supporting a member of your department, or simply trying to understand mental health better, the resources below are here to help. Explore the information, articles, support services, and important numbers available to you—and take what you need, when you need it.

For First Responders

Get Help - 988 Lifeline (For Anyone)

For Families Supporting a First Responder

Help Someone Else - 988 Lifeline (For Anyone)

For Department Leaders and Anyone Trying to Understand

Help Someone Else - 988 Lifeline (For Anyone)

National Volunteer Fire Council — Behavioral Health Directory Vetted clinicians with cultural competence in fire/EMS work; useful for building a referral list for your department.

Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FFBHA) Runs behavioral health workshops for departments, with a strong focus on suicide prevention and awareness training for leadership.

Federation of Fire ChaplainsChaplaincy support that can be brought into a department for both crisis response and ongoing care.

Responder Strong Education and program-building resources aimed at agencies, not just individuals.

VA Mental Health Fact Sheet for First Responders A concise overview of how first responder mental health intersects with the VA system — useful if your department works alongside veteran responders.

Kaiser Permanente — First Responder Mental Health & Wellness Guidance Employer-facing advice on building sustainable mental health support into department culture and policy.

If you're a chief, supervisor, or someone new to this world: the single highest-leverage thing you can do is normalize using these resources before a crisis, not after one. Post them where people already look — the break room, the apparatus bay, the locker room — not buried in a binder no one opens.

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