ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCSC) — A local foundation is providing mental health resources and support for first responders on the Isle of Palms, including a new health and resilience initiative for firefighters.
The Law Enforcement Neighborhood Support Foundation, known as the LENS Foundation, serves approximately 70 first responder employees for the city, according to Ted Kinghorn, director of the LENS Foundation IOP.
Firefighters face elevated mental health risks
Isle of Palms officials say 20% of firefighters could be diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Fire Chief Craig Oliverius said the job exposes firefighters to situations that are difficult to process.
“From the critical events that we see that are very traumatic, we see things in our line of work that sometimes are difficult to deal with,” Oliverius said.
Those situations include cardiac arrest and drownings. Oliverius said stress also stems from the unpredictable nature of the job.
“Levels of stress, anxiety, you never know what’s going to happen on your shift. I mean, you’re going to have emergency responses,” Oliverius said.
Six former and current firefighters have died by suicide since 2020, according to the Charleston Fire Department
Foundation expands support programs
Kinghorn said stressors for first responders extend beyond the job itself, citing compensation, time away from family and shift work as contributing factors.
The LENS Foundation offers scholarships for spouses and children of first responders, hardship awards and morale-boosting activities.
“We support all the first responders, which is about 70 employees for the city,” Kinghorn said.
The foundation recently launched a health and resilience initiative that includes annual mental health check-ins with a certified clinician who has spent time with the firefighters on the Isle of Palms.
“Mental health check-in annually with a certified clinician and that clinician has actually spent time with us,” Oliverius said.
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