In 2022, the State of Florida and the Department of Children and Families partnered with 211 Broward and 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast to introduce Hero4Hero. This confidential 24/7 peer support line was established to address the growing challenges faced by first responders and their families, providing comprehensive mental health assistance. Since its inception in Broward, Palm Beach, and the Treasure Coast areas, Hero4Hero has received over 24,000 life-saving calls or website visits for support. The support line offers toll-free access to a wide array of regional, statewide, and national resources to cater to the behavioral health needs of first responders and their families.
Hero4Hero serves 911 Dispatchers, Corrections/Detention Officers, Emergency Medical Technicians, Firefighters, Paramedics, Law Enforcement, and their families. The support line is staffed by former first responders and peer support specialists who are extensively trained to provide comprehensive support to current and former first responders and their families.
Repeated exposure to stressful and traumatic events on a daily basis can have a significant impact on the mental health of first responders and their families. This can lead to the development of mental health challenges and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to a survey conducted by the Florida Department of Children and Families and Division of Emergency Management, more than half of first responders have reported experiencing acute, episodic, or chronic stress levels. Despite being the first to respond to emergencies, firefighters, police officers, 911 dispatchers, corrections officers, and emergency service personnel often hesitate to seek help. Over the past two years, the Hero4Hero support line has been dedicated to addressing the diverse needs of first responders and their families who are dealing with stress, trauma, depression, suicidal thoughts, and other challenges in their daily lives. The goal of Hero4Hero is to transform suicide prevention within the first responder community by providing confidential access to community resources, emotional support, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, care coordination, mental health and substance use treatment, and suicide prevention.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health:
- Law enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. When comparing the number of first responder suicide deaths from 2017-2022, most of
- The suicide deaths are among EMS professionals and firefighters.
- EMS providers are 1.39 times more likely to die by suicide than the public.
- Between 17% and 24% of public safety telecommunicators have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and 24% have symptoms of depression.
The support line Hero4Hero ensures all calls are confidential and can be anonymous. First responders and their families can reach the 866-760-HERO (4376) support line or learn more at www.Hero4Hero.org.
