First Help

05/26/2026

On this episode of Mental Health Monthly, Garrick Herbert of the Seguin (TX) Fire Department, joins hosts Dan DeGryse and Chris Muscle to explain a simple but powerful practice: family dinner. Herbert details how they build the foundation of mental health for their rookies before they even start with the department. With a unique approach to setting rookies up for success, he explains that after a four‑week recruit orientation, his department hosts an off‑shift family dinner with instructors and a contracted mental health provider.

Garrick Herbert of the Seguin Fire Department discusses the importance of family-inclusive mental health orientations for new recruits, emphasizing trust, leadership modeling, and ongoing support.

05/12/2026

While prevention is critical, one of the most important elements is care. Too often, officers report feeling abandoned, marginalized or overly scrutinized when they seek help. A department’s failure to properly care for its employees — or its tendency to treat them like damaged goods once a mental wellness issue arises — can create legal exposure.

Real cases show how departments can misread, mishandle or overlook mental health struggles — and what that means for officers and agencies alike

05/12/2026

05/11/2026

It's hard to believe we still have laws like this, thanks to the amazing families of survivors, change is made daily.

“I think society as a whole has come to understand that an individual who attempts to take their own life by su***de is suffering a mental health crisis, and they need more help than they need prosecution under the courts,” Steve said.

Chalmers said decriminalizing su***de “removes, for me personally, that extra sting of surviving my sister’s loss by su***de.”

3MentalHealth

Editor’s note: If you or someone you know needs help, the national su***de and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. Nicole Mittendorf (right) and her husband Steve. Mittendorf died by su***de a decade ago.(Courtesy Jennifer Clardy Chalmers) Virginia Gov. Abigail Span...

05/10/2026

05/08/2026

Thoughts on this progressive and innovative benefit? Needed so officers can reset? Absolutely!

Kruse said that three or four officers have already scheduled their times off out of the total 19 full-time officers.

He said that all sworn patrol officers after five years of consecutive service to the city will get two weeks of sabbatical. Those who are assigned to administrative positions get one week.

Kruse said for police officers, it can be hard for them to put their work aside when they go home, and so the program is for them to focus on their mental health.

The program is available to officers and civilian workers who have worked for the Charlestown PD for more than five years; the time off is unrelated to their vacation, personal and sick time

05/07/2026

Freeman said certain calls, especially involving children, can be difficult to process.

To cope, crews often rely on one another, talking through calls and decompressing together after difficult situations.

Still, the stress is constant. Many EMS workers remain on shift for extended periods, carrying that pressure even while trying to rest.

“You’re sitting around in a high-stress environment constantly,” Freeman said. “We stay here for 48 hours. So you sleep with that on your mind. You go to bed wondering, ‘When am I going to get woken up? What’s it going to be?’”

EMS Week in Saline County is shining a spotlight on first responders while drawing attention to the mental health challenges that come with the job.A new partne

05/06/2026

Every attempt to seek help and benefits is blocked and fought. The City of New Bedford is the latest to challenge the severity of PTS and whether or not an officer should be allowed benefits as a result.

He was evaluated by three physicians appointed by the state’s retirement commission, who unanimously agreed his condition results from what he experienced as an officer, and is likely to be permanent.

The physicians concluded that he could not safely continue working as a police officer, according to records Oliveira provided to The Light.

The city, however, says that Oliveira’s condition may not be permanent. An evaluation from a city-paid physician in January concluded Oliveira can be helped with treatment, after which he can return to full duty.

The city-appointed psychiatrist affirmed a PTSD diagnosis, but wrote it was resolving with residual symptoms. The psychiatrist also wrote Oliveira was engaging in “symptom exaggeration,” and that the reporting of his symptoms was occurring in the context of “anger at his employer,”

Three physicians appointed by the state’s retirement commission agree Jacob Oliveira’s condition is likely to be permanent, but a city-paid physician concluded the condition may be helped with treatment.