Important Resources
Resources for First Responders
Public safety is a difficult profession that can lead to mental health struggles – and those struggles cannot be left untreated. More police officers died by suicide than in the line of duty in 2018, as was the case the previous year and the year prior to that. A study commissioned by the Ruderman Family Foundation found that firefighters are also more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty.The following is a list of suicide prevention resources for first responders. Whether you’re on the front line and in need of immediate help, or in a leadership position looking to offer better prevention programs and help for your staff, this list should point you in the right direction.
Programs
The following programs will directly help you or help connect you to the resources you or a loved one needs. The majority of these are tailored specifically to first responders. Also, keep in mind that many of these websites list additional resources to the ones listed in this article.
- For First Responders, By First Responders, dedicated to Putting PTSD Out of Business™. Starting with ourselves, we train those who save others, to save themselves.
- Contact: www.resiliency1st.org/
- The lifeline provides 24/7 confidential support for those in distress or in need of help for their loved ones.
- Contact: Call 800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org
- A text will connect you with a trained crisis counselor, 24/7.
- Contact: https://www.crisistextline.org/ or text BADGE to 741741
- 1st Help matches first responders with appropriate services based on a brief questionnaire, which determines what specific assistance you need (emotional, financial, religious, etc.).
- Contact: http://www.1sthelp.net/
- Safe Call Now is a 24-hour crisis referral service for those in public safety and their family members.
- Contact: https://www.safecallnow.org/ or call 206-459-3020
- FRSN provides educational treatment programs for first responders and their families.
- Contact: http://www.frsn.org/ or call 415-721-9789
- Serve & Protect helps connect public safety professionals with trauma services.
- Contact: https://serveprotect.org/ or call 615-373-8000 for the crisis line.
- Cops Alive provides resources and strategies to help cops live happy and successful lives.
- Contact: http://www.copsalive.com/
- CopLine is a 24/7 service that will connect you to a peer support counselor.
- Contact: http://www.copline.org/ or call 800-267-5463
- This program offers treatment guidance based on the individual needs of officers.
- Contact: https://www.treatmentplacementspecialists.com/first-responders/ or call 877-540-3935
- The Valor Officer Safety and Wellness program is a Bureau of Justice Assistance funded initiative that provides a ton of resources and online training focused on improving officer health and resilience.
- Contact: https://www.valorforblue.org/Home
Resources for Police Officers
The following organizations are working to raise mental health awareness and treatment options for police officers.
- Blue H.E.L.P. is an organization working to reduce mental health stigma in law enforcement and raise awareness of the problem of suicide in LE.
- Contact: https://bluehelp.org/
- Badge of Life’s focus is educating and training agencies on mental health and suicide prevention in law enforcement.
- Contact: https://www.badgeoflife.org/
From choosing the right mental health clinician to breaking the mental health stigma in law enforcement, the following is a collection of content on PoliceOne for police officers at all levels.
- How to prevent police officers from dying by suicide
- Emotional wellness and suicide prevention for police officers
- Are we complicit in police suicide?
- Policing Matters Podcast: How to help prevent police officer suicide
- 7 ways to prevent police suicide by focusing on overall officer well-being
- Police health and wellness: 5 myths we must bust
- Suffering in silence: Mental health and stigma in policing
- 4 things police leaders should be doing to stop police suicide
- How to launch a successful peer support program
- My husband’s suicide: Recognizing predictors of police suicide
- Breaking the Silence: Preventing Suicide in Law Enforcement
- How to prevent PTSD from leading to police suicide
- 9 ways for cops to fight mental health stigma
- What first responders should seek in mental health clinicians
Whether you’re in a leadership role or on the front line, these books offer a wealth of information and guidance on the issues of mental health and suicide in law enforcement.
Downloadable Resources
Explore downloadable guides created to help first responders and leaders take action against mental health struggles.