Other Resources

Having tools and information to use and share with others is important. Resources can be useful in different ways for everyone, so we encourage you to explore options as you build your resource toolkit. Talk with your peers about what is available and update your go-to list frequently.

Other resources to consider:

• The National Center for PTSD offers an online PTSD coaching tool or PTSD Coach app for identifying and managing stress, trauma, and other symptoms.
• Higher Ground offers therapeutic outdoor recreation programming for first responders and veterans at no-cost for the program, travel, gear, or lodging. Programs are located throughout the US and include fly-fishing, skiing and snowboarding, ice climbing, surfing, rafting, and other activities.
• 911der Women publishes Her Voice, a blog for women who work in the 911 community.  
• EMS Burnout Repair Kit: Reigniting Your EMS Passion offers tools for dealing with the primary sources of burnout
• NENA: The 9-1-1 Association offers wellness resources for the 9-1-1 dispatch community.
• University of Central Florida (UCF) Restores offers a series of videos on Stress Management as well as downloadable resources for Rapid Response in the aftermath of trauma.
• First Responder Friday is a weekly podcast featuring public safety professionals and experts discussing a variety of topics related to first responder traumatic stress.
• Create Your Own Light is a weekly podcast hosted by Travis Howze, U.S. Marine, former police officer and firefighter, stand-up comedian, motivational speaker and best-selling author.
• CRACKYL Magazine offers articles and content that support the six pillars of a firefighter – health, lifestyle, fitness and nutrition, relationships, finance, and stress – in an effort to balance personal and professional lives.
• IAFF Online Behavioral Health Awareness is a free introductory course that provides an overview of common behavioral health problems that impact fire service personnel.
• Academy Hour offers free online mental health training for first responders on a variety of topics such as managing public criticism, PTSD, suicide prevention, burnout, post-traumatic growth, overcoming stigma and many others.
• Shield of Resilience Training Course is offered by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA) to provide law enforcement officers with a foundational skill set to better understand and address the behavioral health stressors unique to law enforcement.
• Service to Self Training Course informs fire and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel about their increased risk of mental health and substance use conditions and provides information and resources to address these issues in themselves or peers.
• CrewCare is a resilience-focused app for first responders and health care professionals.
• Happify offers engaging activities to reframe negative thinking and improve stress response.
• First Responders Bible and Spiritual Fitness Manual is free for first responders.
• You Responder Strong is an interactive site that you can personalize with tools and resources for self-care.
• VALOR For Blue is an officer safety and wellness program with additional resources, training, videos and podcasts.
• The IACP offers a collection of resources across a variety of topics, designed to help support the health and wellness of officers.

Resources For Agencies and Organizations

• NAMI Frontline Wellness offers no-cost course materials for 1-1 Peer Support Leader training for fire and EMS, as well as law enforcement professionals. To learn more, contact your local NAMI or email [email protected].
• PTSD911 is a documentary film exploring post-traumatic stress among first responders. Visit the website to learn more about the film or to request information about hosting a public or private screening event.
• From the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), Guide to Building an Effective EMS Wellness and Resilience Program.
• Understanding the Fire Service for Mental Health Clinicians is an online self-paced training intended for behavioral health clinicians interested in working with or treating fire service personnel.
• Trauma in the Fire Service for Clinicians is an introductory webinar intended for clinicians who are interested in working with fire service personnel that are coping with post-traumatic stress or PTSD.
• Securing Sponsors for Department Health and Wellness Programs is an informative resource provided by the National Volunteer Fire Council.
• Officer Suicide: Understanding the Challenges and Developing a Plan of Action provides law enforcement executives a snapshot of the trend in officer suicide and offers a starting point for solutions to help prevent tragedy within their own agencies.
• From the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), Promising Strategies for Strengthening Police Department Wellness Programs.
• The IACP offers a helpful guide for agency leaders: Addressing Law Enforcement Mental Health.
• The National Volunteer Fire Council shares tools and resources to support responder health and wellbeing as part of its Psychologically Healthy Fire Departments (PHFD) initiative.
• Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) provides the COMPASS toolkit for law enforcement agencies who are seeking to implement wellness solutions that support the officer workforce.

If you have free resources you would like others to know about, please send them to [email protected].