COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A new program meant to support the mental well being of first responders is now available across Ohio.
Called a Safe Haven Program, it was created through a partnership between the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Division of EMS and Professional Health Program.
“The Safe Haven Program is a program that’s been a long time coming,” Joel Demory, interim director of the Ohio Division of EMS, said.
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First responders deal with all kinds of calls every day. Sometimes those calls come one after the other.
“One of the draws to a job like this is no two days are the same, no two incidents are the same, and sometimes that also causes that extra stress or pressure because you don’t know what’s coming.,” Worthington Division of Fire and EMS Battalion Chief Mark Lundy said.
Whether it’s dealing with the unknown or not having time to process what just happened at a scene, Lundy said the job can take a toll on a person’s mental health.
“It’s not just from the big gory incidents; it’s the repetitive,” he said. “That state of alert going to one after the other after the other kind of builds on you after a while.”
He wants his colleagues and others in the industry to know it’s OK to talk about how the job is affecting them and it’s OK to ask for help. He recently took time to make sure his team knew about the Safe Haven Program for firefighters and EMTs. If they are dealing with burnout, mental health challenges, or substance use disorder, they can reach out. Their supervisor can reach out, too.
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“First responders are always looked at trying to help folks,” Demory said. “They have to be tough, they have to do this, but then who takes care of them after? This is an opportunity for them to get the help they need so they’re better as a person, but also they’re able to respond better for future incidents on the job.”
Safe Haven Programs have been available to others in the medical field. Demory said this is the first time it’s available to firefighters and EMTs. Lundy is hopeful it will make a difference.
“It’s OK to wave the flag and say, ‘I’m not OK,’” Lundy said. “I’ve been there and I just wanted to share with them that I’ve been there and maybe the fact that I’ll step up and say, ‘Hey, I’m dealing with these things,’ will make it more comfortable for somebody else to say it because that didn’t used to happen.”
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