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.
