First H.E.L.P. and FirstNet®, Built with AT&T, have doubled down on their commitment to provide first responders with world-class mental health training through First H.E.L.P.’s #ResponderReadiness Workshop Series.
During First H.E.L.P.’s four-hour workshops, first responders explore the “3P’s” of responder readiness: performance, persistence, and prevention. Through small group discussions, participants examine the impact that operational stress and trauma have on their careers and families, and take a deep dive using scenario-based training to practice difficult conversations about mental health and suicide prevention with friends, family members, and co-workers. First responders also practice resilience skills using First H.E.L.P.’s #RANGEofResilience.
Upcoming #ResponderReadiness workshops scheduled for Concord, NH, and Chicopee, MA:
- 15 May: #ResponderReadiness Workshop in Concord, NH, for the NH Fire Academy and EMS Resource Center.
- 16 May: #ResponderReadiness Workshop and a #RANGEofResilience Instructor for First Responders near Chicopee, MA.
“A combination of organizational, individual, and family readiness is the keystone of an agency’s ability to serve their community. In the #ResponderReadiness Workshop, First H.E.L.P. places emphasis on getting far ahead of a potential wellness crisis by developing healthy, positive behaviors that foster an organizational culture that is ready to serve,” said Joe Willis, Chief Learning Officer, First H.E.L.P. “While the workshop directly addresses suicide prevention and crisis resource awareness, the primary focus is on resilience and early correction of undesirable behaviors.”
First H.E.L.P. tracks first responder suicides throughout the nation. According to data collected by the organization, 86 New England First Responders were known to be lost to suicide since 2017.
AT&T is working to ease the burden for communities by providing this First H.E.L.P. high-quality training to New England first responders at no cost. FirstNet is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community. Shaped by the vision of Congress and the first responder community following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, FirstNet is built with AT&T in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority, an independent agency within the federal government.
“AT&T’s commitment to our public safety community goes beyond our FirstNet network connectivity,” said Dr. Anna Courie, DPN, RN, PHNA-BC, Director, Responder Wellness, FirstNet Program at AT&T. “We are dedicated to working with First H.E.L.P. to bring mental health resources to first responders across the country—especially in rural areas with limited access. This program with First H.E.L.P. will better equip first responders mentally and physically and help our public safety community stay safer.”
First H.E.L.P.’s goal for 2023 is to bring its #ResponderReadiness workshop to 1,200 first responders throughout the nation.
“This training will provide important tools that are missing in first responder duty bags,” said Christy Lister, a First H.E.L.P. volunteer and co-host of the Beyond the 1st Response podcast. “It is a game changer and will help provide resiliency and normalize conversations about mental well-being.”
First H.E.L.P.’s training program reinforces the strategic priorities established by the FirstNet Health and Wellness Coalition (FNHWC) to support first responders and their families. The mission of the FNHWC is to integrate responder, community, industry, and academic capabilities to support the health, wellness, and readiness of American first responders.
The two organizations hope to see this training reach as far into these rural communities as possible. While the training is open to federal, state, and large municipal responders, priority will go to smaller communities.
