Hello, This fundraiser has been started by Brooke Love, Steven Chupp, Machiko Palmer, and Tommy Lauro to help bring awareness to mental health problems in America. Our goal is to not only raise 200$ worth of funds but also spark meaningful conversations about the importance of mental health support and to educate people on why its so vitally important. Here are some very intriguing numbers that show series of a problem mental health in America is. 69% percent of EMS professionals have never had enough time to recover between traumatic events (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2018). This statistic highlights how serious the mental health crisis is among first responders. This means that most of them move from one stressful or traumatic call to the next without the time or support needed to process what they’ve experienced. Over time, this constant exposure without recovery leads to emotional exhaustion, depression, post traumatic stress, and even suicidal thoughts. The nonstop pace of their work doesn’t just affect their mental health—it also impacts their relationships, physical health, and overall well-being. This number shows an urgent need for dedicated recovery periods (such as adequate PTO to accommodate such trauma), counseling, and mental health support to protect those who dedicate their lives to protecting others. Tom Lauro, one of the people in this group works at a fire station and deals with situations like this all the time.

Tom's words-Mental health in first responders is a topic that is very close to my heart. Over the last few years, I have lost more than a couple of people I called friends to suicide within the fire department. Each loss leaves an emptiness that words can’t really fill. It’s a reminder of how heavy the weight can be for those who serve others every day.

Mental health is tough to define, and the target is always moving. We never truly know what battles someone is facing inside. As first responders, we see death and destruction so often that the lens we look through can become dark and clouded. Over time, it changes how we see the world and sometimes how we see ourselves.

There can even be a strange familiarity with death, a coping mechanism that helps us face it every day but quietly erodes our peace. I believe that the more we recognize that we are not alone in these feelings, the more we can heal each other.

That’s why it’s so important to stand up, speak out, and support one another. This fund is about breaking the silence, showing compassion, and reminding every first responder that their life matters and they are not in this fight alone

Reference:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2018). First responders: Behavioral health concerns, emergency response, and trauma. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/dtac/supplementalresearchbulletin-firstresponders-may2018.pdf

The funds we raise will go to Mental Health America, who affiliates with other organizations that provide mental health help to veterans, families of veterans, and first responders. We believe that providing help to those who’ve served for us is the biggest “thank you” we could possibly give for those who sacrificed for us and our country. See more: https://mhanational.org/resources/military-mental-health/