First Responders

Our front line of protection and safety

They are our law enforcement officers, our firefighters, and our emergency medical professionals. First responders are exposed to daily stress and vicarious trauma that many of us may only deal with a handful of times in our lives. That is why it is so important that resources are available for those who risk so much to protect and care for our community.

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Support Lines for First Responders

Seek help and support anonymously with the resources listed below. Designed and provided by those who understand the unique pressure of being a first responder, these resources are available to those who serve as well as their loved ones.

Safe Call Now: 206-459-3020

Copline: 1-800-267-5463

Code 9 – Officer Needs Assistance: 929-244-9911

Serve and Protect: 615-373-8000

Share the Load (Fire, EMS, Rescue): 1-888-731-FIRE (3473)

Additional Support

Psychological First Aid for First Responders
This brochure adapts traditional psychological first aid (PFA) to be used to help first responders manage their reactions during and after a disaster. It offers strategies for coping with the psychological aspects of a traumatic event such as managing intense emotions, and includes resources such as treatment locators. Using PFA for first responders can promote an environment of safety, calm, connectedness, self-efficacy, empowerment, and healing.

Emergency Responders: Tips for Taking Care of Yourself
This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage includes important self-care steps responders should take before, during, and after a traumatic event.

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Literature, Education Resources and Tools

Creating Safe Scenes Training Course
Creating Safe Scenes is a free online training course that helps first responders work with individuals experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis. This course is designed to help first responders understand more about mental health, mental illness, and substance use disorders so they can better assess risks and apply the safest strategies for taking care of themselves and the individuals they are called to serve.

Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series (DBHIS): Disaster Responders
This part of the SAMHSA DTAC DBHIS includes resources first responders can use to respond effectively, restore survivor well-being, and care for themselves, so that they can continue to serve. Intended for responders in a wide range of fields—police, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, humanitarian aid workers, public officials, and emergency managers.

SAMHSA DTAC Tip Sheets
SAMHSA DTAC offers several tip sheets to help first responders after disasters and traumatic events. Several tip sheets are also available in Spanish.

Tips for Health Care Practitioners and Responders: Helping Survivors Cope With Grief After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
Provides health care practitioners and disaster responders with guidelines for communicating with survivors experiencing grief. Background information about the grieving process and what happens when the grief process is interrupted and complicated or traumatic grief occurs is included as well as helpful resources for additional assistance.

Tips for Survivors: Coping With Grief After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
This tip sheet contains information about grief, the grieving process, and what happens when the process is interrupted and complicated or traumatic grief occurs. It also offers tips and resources for coping with both types of grief.

Information on 'Additional Support' and 'Literature, Education Resources and Tools' provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

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