THE PART OF THE JOB NOBODY TRAINED YOU FOR.
The call ends. Sometimes what it leaves behind doesn't.
MENTAL HEALTH
•
CONNECTION
•
RESOURCES
•
ADVOCACY
•
MENTAL HEALTH • CONNECTION • RESOURCES • ADVOCACY •
YOU'RE NOT ALONE.
BURNOUT
When exhaustion becomes normal.
50-60%
of first responders experience burnoutCOMPASSION FATIGUE
When caring for everyone else gets harder.
77.4%
of first responders experience compassion fatigueLIFE AFTER THE JOB
When leaving doesn't mean leaving it behind.
1 in 3
first responders leave within their first year of hireTRAUMA
When certain calls don't stay at work.
80% +
of first responders experience high impact/traumatic eventsIf this sounds like you, see the resources below.
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
For Families Supporting a First Responder
For Department Leaders and Anyone Trying to Understand
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.
If any buttons have broken links, please contact us immediately. Thank you.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO CARRY IT ALONE….
Whether you're struggling, supporting someone who is, trying to build a healthier department, or simply looking for a place to start — we're glad you're here.
MY IFR CONDITION
WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE CLEARLY, TRUST YOUR INSTRUMENTS.
A conversation about what happens when the job changes you — and learning how to recognize when your own internal instruments are telling you something is wrong.
