New York (WRGB) — As First Responder Wellness Week highlights the pressures faced by emergency personnel, Gov. Hochul announced a new online training designed to help mental health professionals better support first responders across New York.
The First Responder Mental Health and Cultural Awareness Training is aimed at mental health professionals who currently work with, or are considering working with, first responders such as 911 dispatchers, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians and firefighters. The one-hour, awareness-level course focuses on first responder culture, mental health challenges and barriers that can prevent responders from seeking treatment.
Gov. Hochul said,
First responders do more than put their lives on the line; they also put them on hold, prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of New Yorkers every single day. During First Responder Wellness week, we are taking care of our brave firefighters, EMTs, 911 dispatchers, emergency department personnel and members of law enforcement who always sacrifice for their communities and witness New York’s toughest moments. It’s up to us to take care of one another and give first responders the support they need.
State officials said the training includes videos from responders and mental health professionals, along with scenarios and interactive exercises to test learners’ knowledge. Mental health professionals who successfully complete the training can receive continuing education credit.
The course includes five modules: understanding the work of first responders; first responder culture; stressors and barriers to seeking care; understanding health disparities; and strategies to engage first responders.
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Acting Commissioner Terry O’Leary said the training is intended to expand treatment options for first responders seeking help.
Our first responders are witnesses to life’s cruelest events, and it is vital that they receive the support they need to take care of themselves the way that they take care of others. This new training will provide mental health professionals with the insight they need to work with first responders and expand treatment options for first responders looking for help.
The training draws on insights from the New York State First Responder Mental Health Needs Assessment, which officials said was championed by Hochul and included a survey completed by more than 6,000 first responders statewide.
Last February, Hochul unveiled findings from that assessment, noting that more than half of people working in public safety fields experience high levels of stress, burnout and mental health challenges. The assessment also found a lack of culturally competent mental health professionals available to treat first responders.
In response, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and the Office of Mental Health released the training through their Learning Management Systems. Officials said additional trainings for mental health professionals are in development and will be posted to the respective Learning Management Systems once ready. More information is available on the DHSES website.
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said first responders can be exposed to traumatic events and need resources when they are struggling.
It’s vital to ensure resources are there when they need it. This training will ensure mental health professionals are culturally competent and equipped to support the unique needs of the first responder community. I thank Governor Hochul for her continued support of New York’s dedicated emergency workers.
New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said the training is meant to help clinicians better understand what responders face on the job, saying,
This training will help mental health clinicians to better understand what they experience every day on the job, so they are well-prepared to work with them whenever they experience challenges to their mental well-being. This training reflects Governor Hochul’s full commitment to supporting the mental health needs of emergency personnel throughout New York State.
Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said first responders can face higher risks for behavioral health issues and barriers to getting help, saying,
This initiative will make it easier for them to find the help they need, and further supports Governor Hochul’s work to create a healthier New York for all residents.
Officials said the training launch is part of broader efforts to improve first responder mental health and wellness, including previously announced resources such as a Responder Wellness Program Primer to help agencies develop or enhance wellness programs, a video highlighting the unique mental health needs of first responders, and a new website dedicated to first responder mental health and wellness.
The Office of Mental Health also leads initiatives including CARES UP, which officials said provides $3 million annually to uniformed personnel agencies and veterans’ organizations to increase suicide prevention efforts and wellness programming. Officials said the initiative has provided funding to 53 first responder agencies and 11 veteran-serving organizations via Onward Ops, helping integrate mental health and suicide prevention training with wellness initiatives.
Building on that work, Hochul’s FY 2027 budget proposes establishing a First Responder Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, described as a statewide training and technical assistance hub to help departments of all sizes develop peer support programs.
State Sen. Samra Brouk said first responders face barriers to seeking help despite high rates of stress and other mental health challenges.
As we continue our work to expand access to comprehensive mental health services for all New Yorkers, we applaud Governor Hochul’s recognition of the valuable role that wellness officers and peer support teams can play within public safety organizations to help first responders deal with job-related stress. We know that 911 dispatchers, law enforcement, emergency medical technicians, and firefighters face real barriers to seeking help for their higher rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Mental Health, I remain committed to making sure all New Yorkers get the care and support they need from clinical professionals and from trusted, trained peers.
Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said expanding training can help ensure more providers are prepared to support first responders, saying,
First responders experience immense pressure every day, yet too many face barriers when seeking mental health care. Expanding training for mental health professionals will help ensure more providers are prepared to support those on the front lines. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for your partnership in advancing mental health care for first responders and all New Yorkers.
Officials also urged New Yorkers experiencing, or who know someone experiencing, a behavioral health issue to contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which connects callers to trained crisis counselors 24/7. New York 988 call centers received more than 41,000 calls in February alone, officials said, making it the second-most active service nationally.