BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — The mental health of first responders is getting special attention in western North Carolina during a three-day summit in Buncombe County.
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The Second Annual First Responder Mental Health and Wellness Summit is bringing together firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs, and their families to focus on support, resources, and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. The event is hosted by the nonprofit Heart of Horse Sense.
Organizers said the goal is to connect first responders with confidential support and treatment options while encouraging open conversations about the emotional toll of the job.
Speakers at the summit stressed that mental health is just as important as physical safety for those working on the front lines.
One speaker told attendees that suicide rates among first responders are now outpacing line-of-duty deaths, highlighting the urgency to provide more support.
“Suicide is absolutely why we’re here because there’s so much that we can do so much sooner,” said Shannon Knapp, the founder of Heart of Horse Sense.
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Day two of the summit included a panel discussion about the challenges first responders and their families face.
Among those in attendance was 911 dispatcher Michelle Brown, who said she has personally experienced the impact of those struggles.
“I’ve been dispatching for about 20 years, and I’ve seen the struggle that a lot of people, not only dispatchers, but also first responders face, and it’s become a passion of mine to help them realize they’re not alone in their struggles,” Brown said.
Brown said this is personal because she lost a firefighter and other first responders from the department she dispatched to suicide during her career. But she said she is encouraged to see mental health becoming a more open conversation in the field.
“First responder mental health is way behind, and a lot of us, like when I started, it was, ‘Suck it up, buttercup,’ and now it’s becoming more of like, ‘Hey, this is potentially what you could come across and here are some resources to help you,’” Brown said. “And you’re not weak if you look for resources.”
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Organizers said part of the effort to support first responders includes offering alternative therapy options.
At its farm in Madison County, Heart of Horse Sense provides equine-assisted therapy programs designed to help people process trauma in a different setting. Founder Shannon Knapp said the nonprofit has long supported veterans and is now expanding those services to first responders.
“We do psychotherapy and learning for people through interacting with horses, and all our horses come from a ‘less-than’ background,” Knapp said. “They’ve all had less than nurturing experiences. We also have our veterans healing farm, which is open to first responders, as well. They do outside agricultural ag therapy.”
Knapp said loved ones and coworkers should watch for warning signs such as isolation or someone speaking as if they may not be around in the future.
They encourage anyone struggling to seek help and consider the resources available through Heart of Horse Sense programs.
Heart of horse sense website: heartofhorsesense.org