To address the increasing challenges first responders and their families encountered, the State of Florida and the Department of Children and Families collaborated with 211 Broward and 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast to introduce Hero4Hero in 2022. This 24/7 confidential peer support line has been providing comprehensive mental health assistance, ensuring first responders and their families receive the care they deserve around the clock. Since its establishment in Broward, Palm Beach, and the Treasure Coast areas, there have been over 24,000 life-saving calls or website visits for support. It offers toll-free access to a range of regional, statewide and national resources to support first responders and their families’ behavioral health needs.
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 daily exposure to stressful and disturbing events can have a significant impact on one’s mental health, leading to the development of mental health challenges and PTSD among both responders and their family members. According to a survey by the Florida Department of Children and Families and Division of Emergency Management, over half of first responders 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 focused on 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. Hero4Hero’s goal is to revolutionize suicide prevention across 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 that all calls are confidential and can be anonymous. The support line is not affiliated with first responders’ employers, insurance, or employee assistance programs. Additionally, the Hero4Hero support line is backed by the Southeast Florida First Responder Support Coalition, which is a partnership between 211 Broward, 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, Group Victory, Public Safety Chaplaincy, Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network and United Way of Broward County.
First responders and their families can reach the 866-760-HERO (4376) support line or learn more at www.Hero4Hero.org.
