South Carolina First Responder Assistance and Support Team SC FAST

07/22/2026

South Carolina State Firefighters' Association

🚨 FREE Leadership Training Opportunity 🚨

Strong leadership starts with taking care of yourself and those you lead.

Join us for The Mental Health Chronicles of a New Officer, a FREE leadership training featuring Nick Shepard, Program Manager for Behavioral Health Chief Dena Ali, and Mo Peacock. Together, they’ll discuss the realities of leadership, vulnerability, potentially traumatic events, mental wellness, and After Action Reviews (AARs).

📅 Saturday, July 25, 2026
🕠 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM (Dinner will be provided)
📍 Wrightsville Beach Public Safety Training Room

Whether you’re a new officer, aspiring leader, or seasoned supervisor, this class will provide practical insights to help you lead with resilience while supporting the mental well-being of your team.

💲 Cost: FREE

📝 Register today:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0Buy7XBx3CNXL1qcDVcmVWdxLtjVVXQaityYGkGT3YOvPcw/viewform

We hope to see you there!

Together we are Stronger 💪

06/09/2026

The backpack is symbolic.

The things inside aren’t.

Many of us carry grief, loss, fear, responsibility, guilt, and memories that don’t stay where we left them.

June is PTSD Awareness Month—a reminder that not all injuries are visible, and not all healing happens where others can see it.

If you’re carrying something heavy, you’re not alone.

And if someone trusts you enough to share what they’re carrying, listen.

Awareness starts with conversation.
Healing starts with connection.

✨✨ Let’s Have A Conversation. ✨✨

06/09/2026

South Carolina State Firefighters' Association

05/20/2026

SCFAST recognizes the importance of mental health awareness beyond a specific month, yet we appreciate the dedicated time to focus on transforming the culture to prioritize mental wellness as an integral aspect of overall self-care and interpersonal care.
South Carolina State Firefighters' Association
South Carolina EMS Association

05/19/2026

Ame is one of our training coordinators.
Training is a huge part of mental wellness and resilience.
We are grateful for Ame’s dedication and understanding that we are “better together” not only in her role(s) with SCFAST but every day in the community she works.
We are grateful for you Ame Kellum.

The South Carolina EMS Association is proud to recognize Ame Kellum of Greenville County EMS with the 2026 Resilience in EMS Award during EMS Week.

For 27 years, Ame has been a steady source of support, leadership and encouragement for EMS professionals both on and off the ambulance. Her nomination highlighted her dedication to peer support, provider wellness and helping EMS personnel navigate difficult moments throughout their careers.

In a profession where resilience is tested daily, Ame continues to lead with compassion, empathy and an unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of those around her. Her impact extends far beyond individual calls, helping foster a stronger and more supportive culture within EMS.

Thank you, Ame, for the lasting impact you continue to make on EMS professionals across South Carolina.

04/13/2026

One of the hardest things to learn to do….but very powerful when learned.

“Sitting with the feeling” means allowing an emotion to be there without trying to fix it, escape it, or judge it.

It’s uncomfortable—but it’s also where processing and healing actually happen.

Instead of pushing it away, you gently stay with it and notice:
• What am I feeling right now?
• Where do I feel it in my body?
• What is this emotion trying to tell me?

You’re not trying to solve it in that moment. You’re just giving it space.

04/13/2026

Stop The Threat - Stop The Stigma wants to share with you information about different trauma responses.

Trauma responses are the automatic ways our mind and body react to perceived danger or overwhelming stress. The most commonly known are fight, flight, freeze, and fawn:

Fight: Confronting the threat directly. This can look like anger, aggression, or trying to take control of a situation.

Flight: Escaping the threat. Physically leaving, avoiding situations, or staying constantly busy to not face distress.

Freeze: Feeling stuck or unable to act. This may show up as shutting down, numbness, or difficulty making decisions.

Fawn: Trying to please others to stay safs. Going along with others, avoiding conflict, or putting others’ needs ahead of your own.

These responses are not choices, they’re survival mechanisms built into the nervous system. While they can be helpful in real danger, they may continue even when the threat is no longer present, which is why understanding them is an important step toward healing and developing healthier coping strategies.

www.stopthethreatstopthestigma.org

04/13/2026

03/14/2026

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