Local first responder launches mental health support team
Published 3:59 pm Tuesday, April 28, 2026
STANFORD, Ky. — A Lincoln County first responder is launching a peer support team dedicated to the mental health of first responders and their families, citing alarming statistics about suicide and trauma in the profession.
Griffin Harness, who recently became certified in behavioral health and peer support, is building Lincoln County Second Due, a team that will provide mental health resources and peer support to first responders across the county.
The need, Harness said, is urgent.
“The average person experiences three to four traumatic incidents in their life and a first responder witnesses over 800,” he said. “Around 46.8% of first responders have contemplated suicide, with attempts 10 times higher than the general public. These numbers are not acceptable.”
The team takes its name from a fire service term. In firefighting, the first-due unit arrives first on scene, while the second-due crew follows to assist with cleanup and support.
“That’s what we are,” Harness said. “We want to assist with cleaning up the mess, which includes cleaning up our first responders to ensure they are at their best at every call and while in their personal lives.”
Harness said the team will be available daily to first responders and their families, serving as a bridge to mental health resources and further professional help when needed. He said his certifications give him the ability to train team members and lead them in active listening and conversation techniques.
Confidentiality, he said, will be central to the program’s success.
“We will work hard to embed our peer support service in training and activity to make it the norm around our department and creating a new stigma,” Harness said. “All of our members will be trained to the highest standard of a peer support team.”
Harness said he hopes to draw members from multiple agencies across the county and beyond.
“This isn’t a club where certain people can’t be a part of it,” he said. “This is a team where every person counts and everyone can have a responsibility.”
His long-term vision extends well past Lincoln County.
“I hope that our team transforms into a regional type team that grows and deploys all over the state and maybe other states,” Harness said. “And if our team saves one life, that’s what matters.”
First responders or family members seeking more information can contact Harness at 606-669-7391 or at gharness@lincolnky.com.