A coalition of firefighters, police officers, corrections officers, ski patrol, and dispatchers, is urging Vermont lawmakers to fund a $160,000 peer support program to improve access to mental health services for first responders, WCAX reports.
The group says trauma, stress, and burnout are major challenges faced by first responders, particularly in rural areas where mental health resources are scarce. They advocate for a proactive approach to stress injury management, focusing on education and awareness to help individuals recognize and address mental health struggles in themselves and their colleagues.
A similar, grant-funded program last year supported over 130 first responders.
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