LSF Health Systems
Contributor
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, recognized this year from Sunday, April 13, through Saturday, April 19, is a time to spotlight the true "first" responders. Every day, dispatchers field emergency calls in real-time as they unfold. But when they're in crisis, who is there for them? LSF Health Systems' First Responder Peer Support Program provides critical mental health resources specifically designed to support dispatchers and other first responders when they need help the most.
Statistically, first responders and dispatchers have higher rates of relationship issues, alcohol/drug abuse and suicide attempts and completions. In fact, according to Blue H.E.L.P., more than 1,200 first responders in the U.S. have died by suicide since 2019. In Florida, there have already been two reported suicides this year.
Shelly Castellano, a 911 dispatcher in St. Johns County, said peer support is necessary to stay level-headed call after call.
"You try to explain to your family the kind of day you've had and the toll it took on you," Castellano said. "They can empathize, but they can't fully understand the mental exhaustion you're feeling. That's why peer support is so important."
The First Responder Peer Support Program serves 20 counties across Northeast and Northern Central Florida, including Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee, by providing first responders and their family members access to confidential, free mental health services.
"Dispatchers are often the unseen lifeline in emergencies, managing intense situations while staying calm under pressure," said Dr. Christine Cauffield, CEO of LSF Health Systems. "It's essential for them to decompress and process the constant life-or-death calls. During this special week, we want to honor their dedication and remind them that mental health support is available."
All dispatchers need to do is call 211 and identify as a first responder. They will then be connected with a trained peer specialist within 24 hours. While some dispatchers and police departments offer internal peer support services, dispatchers may feel uneasy discussing personal struggles within their own agency. This program provides a trusted alternative where first responders can seek help without fear of judgment.
"We need to stay healthy for our jobs and our families because they depend on us," said Castellano.
First responders or their family members can visit www.StayFitforDuty.org or call 211 for more information.
Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., LSF Health Systems is a behavioral health Managing Entity (ME), contracted by the Florida Department of Children and Families, dedicated to overseeing behavioral healthcare for people who face poverty and are without insurance. For more information, visit www.lsfhealthsystems.org.
