State lawmakers urged to focus on mental health of first responders – WCJB

ALACHUA CO., Fla., (WCJB) -- When most people think of first responders they think of their physical health but a state lawmaker is now focusing on a way to address their mental health.

Three first responders in Florida have died in the past few days and now a state lawmaker from North Central Florida is addressing the issue.

"It's pretty traumatic some of the things they go through," said Senator Keith Perry, (R) FL District #8.

Senator Keith Perry has received unanimous support from the children, families and elder affairs committee for a bill that would allow confidentiality between first responders who seek personal and professional support from their peers.

"It's a peer to peer bill so first responders can talk to their coworkers and not worry about that information getting out to the public or to their supervisors," said Perry.

The proposed bill is aiming to build a trusted support system within the first responder community.

"In my generation, we were told to suck it up and move forward suck it up and move forward well now we've learned that sucking it up and moving forward is not the way to deal with it. You don't want it to pile up inside, you don't want it to bottle up," said Chief Inspector Jorge Campos, Gainesville Police Department.

And just like GPD, Chief Harold Theus with the Alachua County Fire Rescue says he also supports Perry's bill.

"One of the most important things in fire rescue that we look after is the mental health and well being of our employees and as you can imagine they see a lot on a daily basis," said Theus.

The proposed bill will be an added layer to a program already in place at ACFR.

"We've identified 12 individuals that are firefighters driver operators lieutenants they're in the ranks, they are actually the peers of the employees that they are working with. Those employees have been trained to an advanced level to be able to counsel other employees in the event they're going through a difficult time," said Theus.

"It's encouraging you know you do a lot of things in Tallahassee with taxes and other bills like that and to have a bill that will impact peoples lives in such a dramatic way, its a rewarding part of the job," said Perry.

Perry says getting support for the bill in the Senate was just step one, and that he's hoping to gain more momentum as it moves through legislation.

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State lawmakers urged to focus on mental health of first responders - WCJB