MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
Your Story Doesn’t Have to End Here
If you’re a first responder or veteran, you’ve spent your life protecting others. But when the weight gets heavy, struggling doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human. You are not alone, and there is help for you.
You are not alone.
PTSD, depression, and anxiety are far more common among first responders and veterans than most people realize. These struggles may be silent, but they are real.
They do not define you.
The pain you are carrying is not a measure of your strength, character, or worth. Trauma can distort perspective, overwhelm the mind, and create deep feelings of isolation, but those feelings are not who you are.
Addiction is often part of the story.
For many first responders and veterans, it becomes a way to cope with the weight of the job and the experiences that come with it. While it may feel like relief in the moment, it is simply another survival response. It does not define you either.
You do not have to hide your pain.
Wearing a mask and pretending everything is fine only makes the weight heavier over time. Carrying that alone is not sustainable. Speaking honestly is not weakness. It is the beginning of healing.
You have been a hero to others.
As a first responder or veteran, you have given everything for your community and your country. Now it is time to give that same compassion and care to yourself. You deserve support and you deserve to be heard.
It’s Time to Take That First Step
If you are a first responder or veteran and you’re struggling, asking for help can feel like the hardest thing to do. But it is also one of the bravest.
You do not have to do this alone.
There are people who care about you and want to support you. You have spent your life helping others. Now it is time to give yourself that same chance.
Reaching out is a sign of strength.
It is easy to believe that asking for help makes you weak. The truth is, it takes courage to recognize when you need support and even more courage to seek it.
You have already helped countless others.
You have faced unimaginable challenges and stood strong for your communities and your country. Now it is your turn. Take a moment to acknowledge your humanity. It is okay to need help. It is okay to rest. It is okay to heal.
Too many first responders and veterans have been lost because of silence. Too many have carried their pain alone until it became too heavy. But it does not have to be that way for you. Your story is still unfolding, and there is more ahead of you than this moment.
Your life is worth protecting.
No matter how dark things feel right now, there is still a future in front of you. A future filled with growth, connection, and healing. You matter. Your presence matters. Your story matters.
Reaching out is a step toward strength.
If you are struggling, take that first step. Make the call. Send the message. Talk to someone you trust or someone who is trained to help. You do not have to carry this alone.
And if you see someone else struggling, do not ignore it.
Be the person who reaches out. Offer support. Start the conversation. The same way you have helped others, you have the power to help someone find their footing again.
Together, we can break the silence and move toward healing.
Call or text: 988
IAFFrecoverycenter.com
Firefightermentalhealth.org
Saveawarrior.org
Stackofstones.com