The Milwaukee Fire Department launched on Monday, April 29 a new initiative to provide first responders with essential mental health support.
According to FOX 6 News, a news release says the All-Hands Initiative, therapy sessions, fully funded by ITS, and facilitated by licensed mental health professionals from First Responders Psychological Services, LLC, will be available to firefighters starting May 1. This timing aligns with the first day of Mental Health Awareness Month.
“As everybody is aware, the fire department has been under a tremendous amount of strain," City of Milwaukee Fire Department Chief Aaron said at a press conference.
"We have done remarkable things here and we’re proud of these things. We have an incredible peer support program, we have a chaplaincy program that’s alive and well, and really taking hold. We have an outstanding Employee Assistance Program with the City of Milwaukee and still these stress and strains persist. What you are going to hear about today, fills a very important gap."
Firefighter Joe Flick, who founded the Ignite the Spirit Fund in Milwaukee, a volunteer-run nonprofit that supports firefighters and their families in times of need, spoke to the importance of this new initiative.
"Last summer we added a name to the memorial, and it is one that stings for a lot of us who are still here," he said. "We don’t want to see any more names added to out memorial regarding mental, behavioral health."
