First Responder Wellness Research

Participants needed!

Teaching coping skills is important. But are the changes lasting?

We talk a lot about resilience and coping in first responder wellness. Take a class. Learn breathing techniques. Practice mindfulness. Exercise. Develop better coping strategies.

But this systematic review and meta-analysis raises an important question:

Are we actually creating lasting changes?

Researchers reviewed 13 longitudinal studies involving 1,854 public safety personnel, including police officers, firefighters, and rescue/recovery workers.

They examined two broad types of coping:

🟢 Approach coping — strategies such as actively addressing problems, regulating emotions, and seeking social support.

🔴 Avoidant coping — strategies involving withdrawal, avoidance, suppression, or substance use.

Across the studies, improvements in both approach and avoidant coping were small and not statistically significant.

That doesn't mean coping skills don't matter.

It means that simply teaching someone a coping strategy may not be enough to create sustained change.

For me, this is another reason first responder wellness cannot be a one-time training, annual presentation, or intervention offered only after a critical incident.

We need to ask:

What happens after the training?

Are healthy coping strategies reinforced by leadership?

Are responders given opportunities to practice them?

Does the organizational culture actually support using them?

Are we evaluating whether programs still make a difference six months or a year later?

First responders don't experience occupational stress once.

Our approach to wellness shouldn't happen once either.

Reference:
Di Nota, P. M., Kasurak, E., Bahji, A., Groll, D., & Anderson, G. S. (2021). Coping among public safety personnel: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Stress and Health, 37(4), 613–630. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3039

📣 Job Opportunity — Siddons-Martin Fire Equipment
I wanted to share a great opportunity with Siddons-Martin Emergency Group, a leading provider of fire and emergency equipment solutions.

One important clarification about the posting: Although the listed location shows Shreveport, Louisiana, the actual sales territory covers South Arkansas and North Louisiana.

Siddons-Martin is looking for someone who is familiar with fire equipment, apparatus, or the fire service industry—making this an excellent fit for someone with hands-on experience or strong industry knowledge.

If you are interested in a sales role supporting fire departments across this region—or know someone who may be a strong match—please take a look at the full posting for details on responsibilities, qualifications, and how to apply.

📍 Territory: South Arkansas & North Louisiana
📌 Posting location: Shreveport, Louisiana
🏢 Company: Siddons-Martin Emergency Group

👉 View the position and apply here:
https://jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-US/smteam/candidateportal/jobs/856

Please feel free to share this post or tag someone in the fire service community who might be interested. The right opportunity often finds the right person through a connection.

🚨 Today is the LAST DAY for Early Bird Pricing! 🚨

Don't wait to lock in your spot for the TFRF Su***de Prevention Task Force 5th Annual Conference: "Answering the Call"! Early bird registration is just $99.95, but this discount rate ends today, August 15.

Join fellow first responders, clinicians, and supporters for two powerful days dedicated to mental health, resilience, and saving lives within our first responder community.

🗓 When: October 19–20, 2026

📍 Where: Williamson Family Farms (3250 Wilkinson Pike, Murfreesboro, TN)

🏨 Hotel: Holiday Inn Murfreesboro ($122/night special rate available)

👉 How to Register: Scan the QR code on the flyer or head straight to www.TNFirstRespondersFoundation.com to secure your seat before prices go up!

***deprevention

🚨 First Responder Resource Spotlight

I recently received another resource designed specifically for the first responder community and wanted to share it.

First Responder Forward and its 10-90 Initiative focus on making wellness information and support more accessible to first responders, military members, veterans, and their families. Their work includes evidence-informed education, resilience training, leadership development, and practical wellness resources.

One feature that may be especially helpful is their national therapist directory, which is designed to connect responders with clinicians who understand shift work, critical incidents, and first responder culture. The site also includes training opportunities, practical resources for responders and families, and information about organizations serving the first responder community.

🔗 Explore the resource here:
First Responder Forward- https://firstresponderforward.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTpnsFwZG9mA2V4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMU1BcklnZmJ2UmhHVk9MamlzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA81MTQ3NzE1NjkyMjgwNjEAAR7vfSVZVrix932Q1Mz53uKRkGKE_OwtmhDzwY9TiQdlNCAjNM-6vrJnbyLifg_aem_-FeXpDBQjOqioDDb0CAEpw

As always, I share resources so that first responders, families, clinicians, peer-support teams, and departments know what options are available. Sharing a resource does not mean that I have personally evaluated or endorse every service or provider listed. I encourage you to explore any resource and determine whether it is appropriate for your individual needs.

If you've used this resource, I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments.

The 10-90 Initiative — Support for First Responders Training and a verified therapist directory built for those who protect others.

📣 Let’s find and support more first responder pages!

There are so many people doing great work for the first responder community, and I know I only see a small fraction of it.

If you run a page, organization page, or other social media page dedicated specifically to first responders, drop your link in the comments! 👇

Your page might focus on:

🚑 EMS
🚒 Fire Service
🚓 Law Enforcement
🎧 Dispatch
🔒 Corrections
🧠 Mental health & wellness
🤝 Peer support
👨‍👩‍👧 First responder families
📚 Education & training
🎙️ Advocacy, resources, or community

Whether you have 100 followers or 100,000, share what you’re doing. This isn’t about competition—it’s about connection and making good resources easier to find.

If you follow a first responder page that you think others should know about, tag them too!

Drop the page name, link, and a sentence about what they offer below. 👇

I also appreciate you sharing my page ❤️

Let’s use this space to connect the people who are working to support those who serve.

🏥 Calling Inpatient & Residential Programs Specifically Serving First Responders

I am continuing to build resources that can help first responders and their families find the right kind of support when they need it.

This time, I am looking specifically for inpatient or residential mental health and/or substance use treatment programs designed for first responders.

I am not simply looking for facilities that accept first responders as patients. I am looking for programs that have dedicated first responder programming, tracks, units, or cohorts where treatment is intentionally designed around first responder culture and, ideally, first responders are treated separately from the general population.

🚑 EMS
🚒 Fire Service
🚓 Law Enforcement
🎧 Dispatch
🔒 Corrections
🎖️ Military/Veterans, when included within a dedicated public-safety program

If you represent one of these programs—or know of one you trust—please share in the comments:

📍 Program/facility name and location
🌐 Website
🏥 Inpatient, residential, PHP, or other level of care
👥 First responder populations served
🧠 Mental health, trauma, substance use, or co-occurring treatment offered
💰 Insurance accepted and/or financial assistance available, if known

I have previously highlighted several programs, but I know there are more out there. My goal is to make it easier for a responder, family member, peer-support team, clinician, or department leader to know where to turn before they are desperately searching for help.

If you know a program doing this work well, tag them or drop their information below.

And if you have personally used a program and feel comfortable sharing your experience, that perspective may be incredibly valuable to someone considering treatment.

I do not have a personal or financial relationship with the programs shared or highlighted unless I specifically state otherwise. Sharing a resource is not an endorsement of a particular treatment program.

🌱 Calling all coaches, nurses, and wellness professionals who support first responders!

I'm working to build a stronger network of professionals who are passionate about supporting the health and well-being of first responders—both inside and outside of traditional mental health care.

If you provide services that help first responders thrive, I'd love for you to introduce yourself in the comments.

Please include:

📍 State(s) where you practice or serve clients
🎓 Credentials or certifications (Life Coach, RN, Health Coach, Wellness Coach, Nutritionist, Fitness Professional, etc.)
🌐 Website or business link

If you'd like, you can also include:
🚑 Which first responder populations you serve (EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement, Dispatch, Corrections, Military, etc.)
💻 In-person, virtual, or both
⭐ Your area of focus (nutrition, fitness, resilience, stress management, sleep, leadership, executive coaching, recovery, wellness, etc.)

First responder wellness extends beyond counseling. Physical health, sleep, nutrition, leadership, coaching, medical care, recovery, and overall wellness all play important roles in helping responders build sustainable careers.

If you know someone doing great work in these areas, tag them below!

Let's continue building a community of trusted professionals who are committed to supporting those who serve others.

I'd like your help building another resource for the first responder community.

If you know of a **charity, nonprofit, foundation, or financial assistance program** that helps first responders access **mental health care or medical care**, please share it in the comments.

I'm especially looking for organizations that:
🧠 Help pay for counseling or mental health treatment
💙 Provide financial assistance for medical care or rehabilitation
🚑 Offer grants or emergency financial support during times of need
👨‍👩‍👧 Support first responders and their families through health-related hardships

If you represent one of these organizations, please include:
• Organization name
• Website
• Who is eligible (EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement, Dispatch, Corrections, etc.)
• A brief description of the services provided

My hope is to build a growing list of trusted resources that first responders and their families can access when they need support.

Please share this post so we can reach as many organizations as possible. Someone may discover a resource today that changes their life tomorrow.

🧠 Let's build a stronger referral network for first responders.

One of the questions I hear most often is:

"Do you know a therapist in my state who understands first responder culture?"

I'd love your help creating a broader network of clinicians who are passionate about serving this community.

If you are a mental health clinician who works with first responders, please share the following in the comments:

📍 State(s) where you are licensed
🎓 Professional license/credentials (LPC, LMHC, LCSW, LMFT, Psychologist, Psychiatrist, etc.)
🌐 Website or practice link

If you'd like, you can also include:
🚑 The first responder populations you serve (EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement, Dispatch, Corrections, Military, etc.)
💻 Whether you offer telehealth, in-person services, or both.

My hope is that this thread becomes a valuable resource for first responders who are looking for culturally informed mental health care close to home.

Please feel free to tag clinicians you trust who have experience working with first responders.

Together, we can make it easier for those who serve our communities to find the support they deserve.