Provide An Accessible Mental Health Resource For All First Responders

 

The purpose of this bill is to establish funding to create accessible and free mental health resources for all first

responders. Some departments and agencies already have a resource that their workers can go to, but smaller departments

in Minnesota do not have the funding to provide that for their workers. Every 6 months, therapists/psychologists will do

wellness check-ups on all first responders. The session should take around an hour to complete to make sure they are

stable.

 

Mental health for first responders can often be overlooked until it is too late, there have been way too many suicide

attempts and successful suicides regarding all first responders, whether that be law-enforcement, the fire department,

or EMS. First responders face a 54 percent increase suicide risk due to cumulative trauma, limited time for emotional

processing, and the constant high-stress environment. In June 2024, Minnesota began recognizing certain officers

suicides as line of duty deaths, acknowledging the trauma and the stress officers face. This is a significant step in

recognizing that the emotional injuries from the job can be as devastating as the physical ones.

 

 

“First Responders” includes law enforcement, the fire department, and EMS (emergency medical service).

“Suicide” the taking of ones own life.

“Attempted suicide” the attempt to take someone’s own life, but failing or backing out in the process.

“Mental health” a person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

“Trauma” the physical or emotional response to a terrifying or overwhelming event period.

“Cumulative trauma” the gradual development of injury or a mental health challenge over time from repeated or prolonged

exposure to traumatic experiences, rather than a single event.

“High-stress environment” setting where a person experiences constant pressure, often from factors like a heavy

workload, tight deadlines, job insecurity, and poor work relationships

“Line of duty deaths” the death of an emergency responder, like a police officer or firefighter, that is a direct and

proximate result of their official duties, whether on or off duty.

“Wellness check-ups” a first responder mental health session with a psychologist or therapist.

 

 

The funding needed for this bill will be 0.25% income tax on all first responders.

 

 

If first responders do not get checked up every 6 months, the county will be fined $10,000.

 

 

This act shall take place on January 1st, 2031.