Responding to the Mental Health Needs of the First Responder
Educating, connecting, healing.
Bravely taking on mental health
Every day the City of Watervliet’s firefighter/paramedics work the frontlines of disease, death, and destruction. Members must be their best when patients are at their worst or a building is burning. Brave Minds Firefighter Wellness supports our members wellbeing proactively by offering valuable expert led training and resiliency tools.
Tools of the Trade
Brave Minds offers members of our department and their families support and resources to help approach the very real issue of mental wellness on and off the job.
Mental Health Awareness & Resiliency Training
Mental health awareness training destigmatizes mental health care, offers awareness of the warning signs of common problems frequently faced by firefighter/paramedics, and teaches proven ways to get better and build resiliency.
Peer Support Team
The Peer Team trains to help members effectively recognize and respond to another firefighter experiencing symptoms with active listening and referring members if needed. The Peer Team is directed by a local clinical psychologist.
Resources
- IAFF Center of Excellence 855-900-8437
- NexGen Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 800-327-2255
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or Text 9-9-8 or 988Lifeline.org/chat/
Brave Minds Firefighter Wellness is supported by a CARES UP grant from the Suicide Prevention Coalition of New York State.