First responders’ mental health critical to public safety

Tony Rodarte

Submitted photo/Gilbert Chamber of Commerce

As communities continue asking first responders to meet increasingly complex challenges, investing in their mental well-being is an investment in stronger businesses, healthier families and safer communities for everyone.”

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OPINION — When someone dials 911, the expectation is that help will arrive and restore order during one of life’s most difficult moments. What often goes unseen is what happens after the call ends.

First responders carry repeated exposure to tragedy, violence, loss and crisis into their homes, relationships and health. Over time, that burden affects families, workplaces, emergency-response systems and the broader community.

That is why first responder mental health cannot be treated as a public-safety issue alone. It is also a business and community issue with consequences that reach far beyond the badge.

Barriers stand between first responders and care

The 2025 First Responder Mental Health Needs Assessment conducted by New York State found that more than 90% of first responders report that services such as therapy and peer support would improve their mental health. Yet most do not seek care due to systemic barriers:

• Stigma — Nearly 80% say the culture surrounding first-responder professions reinforce the expectation to remain resilient regardless of the emotional toll.

• Confidentiality concerns — 72% worry their personal struggles could affect their careers, reputations or relationships within their departments.

• Limited access to specialized care — 75% report difficulty finding mental-health professionals who understand the realities of first-responder work.

The consequences are significant. According to 1st H.E.L.P., 152 first responders died by suicide in 2025 alone, underscoring the urgent need for trusted, accessible care.

Business case for first-responders’ well-being

Businesses rely on healthy emergency response systems every day, whether they realize it or not. When first responders are not supported, the ripple effects can reach employees, customers, operations and the broader local economy.

• Business continuity — Every business depends on emergency services to respond quickly and effectively when accidents, medical emergencies, fires or security incidents occur. Supporting first-responder well-being helps sustain the workforce communities rely on during critical moments.

• Local economic resilience — High turnover, staffing shortages and burnout among first responders can increase overtime costs, strain municipal budgets and reduce emergency-response capacity. Strong public-safety systems are part of the infrastructure that allows local economies to grow and businesses to operate with confidence.

• A healthier workforce beyond first responders — Trauma rarely affects just one individual. Family members, spouses and caregivers are employees, coworkers and leaders across every industry. When first responders lack adequate mental-health support, the effects often extend into workplaces throughout the community.

Community cost of untreated trauma

The impact also extends into homes, neighborhoods and the broader support systems that help communities thrive. When first responders carry untreated trauma, it can affect family stability, emergency-service strength and the resources communities rely on.

• Emergency response capacity — Burnout and cumulative stress make it harder for agencies to recruit, retain and support experienced first responders, ultimately affecting emergency preparedness and service delivery.

• Families carry the burden — Trauma often follows first responders home, placing emotional strain on spouses, children and loved ones while affecting the stability of family support systems throughout the community.

• Growing demand for community resources — When behavioral-health challenges go untreated, communities frequently experience increased demand for healthcare, crisis intervention, emergency services and other public resources that could be reduced through earlier intervention.

Showing up for those who show up for us

Addressing first-responder mental health requires more than encouraging people to ask for help. As communities continue asking first responders to meet increasingly complex challenges, investing in their mental well-being is an investment in stronger businesses, healthier families and safer communities for everyone.

Tony Rodarte is a retired Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office detective and co-founder of Compassion Alliance, a Gilbert-based nonprofit that supports first responders. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.