988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free, confidential 24/7 support for anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.
Call or text 988Visit WebsiteHelp Is Here
Resources
You don’t have to carry the weight alone.
The job asks a lot of the people who answer the call. Below are trusted, confidential resources built for first responders and their families — crisis lines staffed by people who understand the work, peer support networks, counseling, and education. Whether you’re in crisis right now or just want someone who gets it, help is available 24/7.
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Immediate Crisis & 24/7 Help Lines
Staffed around the clock. Many are answered by peers who understand the work.
Crisis Text Line (First Responder)
Free, 24/7 text-based support with a trained crisis counselor.
Text BADGE to 741741Visit WebsiteCopLine
Confidential 24/7 hotline for law enforcement officers and families, answered by trained retired officers.
1-800-267-5463Visit WebsiteFire/EMS Helpline (Share The Load)
Free, confidential 24/7 helpline by the NVFC for fire and EMS personnel and their families.
1-888-731-3473Visit WebsiteNext Rung
Peer support and referral line run by firefighters, connecting responders with a fellow responder.
Call or text 833-698-7864Visit WebsiteVeterans Crisis Line
24/7 confidential crisis support for veterans and service members.
Dial 988 then press 1, or text 838255Visit WebsiteDisaster Distress Helpline
SAMHSA's 24/7 national hotline for emotional distress related to disasters.
1-800-985-5990Visit WebsitePeer Support
First Responder Peer Support
Connect with people who have walked the same shifts and carry the same load.
First Responder Support Network (FRSN)
Residential and retreat-based support, including the West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat, for first responders and their families coping with critical incident stress.
Visit WebsiteResponderStrong
Supports the mental health and wellbeing of emergency responders, healthcare workers, and their families — built for responders, by responders.
Visit WebsiteServe & Protect
Trauma services, peer support, and critical incident stress management referrals for first responders.
Visit WebsiteConcerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)
Resources and support for families and co-workers of fallen law enforcement officers.
573-346-4911Visit WebsiteEducation
Advocacy, Education & Awareness
Organizations working to reduce stigma and build a healthier culture across the service.
The Code Green Campaign
First responder–oriented mental health advocacy and education organization serving all types of first responders; focused on awareness, reducing stigma, and education.
Visit WebsiteFirefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FFBHA)
Behavioral health workshops, suicide prevention/awareness training, and peer support resources for fire and EMS.
Visit WebsiteBlue H.E.L.P.
Focused on reducing law enforcement officer suicide, supporting families of officers lost to suicide, and ending mental health stigma in policing.
Visit WebsiteNVFC — Share The Load
Behavioral health program with resources, a directory of professionals familiar with first responder culture, training, and the Fire/EMS Helpline.
Visit WebsiteClinical Care
Treatment & Counseling
Find clinicians and treatment resources familiar with first responder culture.
NVFC Directory of Behavioral Health Professionals
Searchable directory of local clinicians equipped to help firefighters, EMS providers, dispatchers, and their families.
Visit WebsiteSAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information service for mental health and substance use disorders.
1-800-662-4357Visit WebsiteComprehensive Addiction Treatment Services — Harbor of Grace Recovery
Residential and intensive outpatient substance use and mental health treatment for first responders, veterans, and their families, with a culturally competent clinical team that understands public safety and military life.
443-502-8606 (24/7 admissions)Visit WebsiteFor Departments
Training & Department Tools
Practical guides and curricula for leaders building a wellness program.
Protecting The Guardian — Wellness & QPR Class
PTG's flagship 8-hour, in-person wellness class with QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training. Certificate of Course Completion issued for CISM, CIT, peer support, chaplain, and wellness coordinator training files. Accepted by public safety agencies for annual wellness training credentials.
Visit WebsiteSAMHSA — Managing Stress for First Responders Guide
Practical, free guide on recognizing and managing stress for disaster and first responders.
Visit WebsiteNFFF Fire Service Behavioral Health Management Guide
Guide for building a tiered department behavioral health program (leadership, peer support, clinical support).
Visit WebsitePsychologically Healthy Fire Departments (NVFC)
Toolkit and training to help leaders promote member wellbeing and build psychologically healthy departments.
Visit WebsiteFlorida
Florida Resources (State-Specific)
Programs serving Florida first responders and their families.
Florida First Responder Hope Line (Crisis Center of Tampa Bay)
FL StatewideConfidential, 24/7 crisis line for first responders, created by the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and expanded to all 67 Florida counties.
1-866-435-4376 (1-866-4FL-HERO)Visit WebsiteUCF RESTORES
Orlando, FLNonprofit clinical research center and trauma treatment clinic housing the National Center of Excellence for First Responder Behavioral Health; evidence-based PTSD treatment, peer support, and clinician training.
407-823-3910Visit WebsiteBlue Line Support (BLS)
Ocoee, FLPeer-to-peer support officer program and network of mental health professionals offering intervention, prevention, resiliency training, education, and referrals for law enforcement officers.
855-964-2583 (24-hour hotline)Visit WebsiteThe 2nd Alarm Project
FL StatewideNonprofit offering evidence-based resiliency programs, behavioral health navigation and counseling, peer support, critical incident response, and education for Florida first responders and families.
Visit WebsiteFlorida Firefighters Safety & Health Collaborative — Mental Wellness / Redline Rescue
FL StatewideFree statewide program offering peer support, chaplaincy, clinician awareness training, and the Redline Rescue portal for quick free access to peer supporters and culturally competent clinicians.
Visit WebsiteLSF Health Systems — First Responder Peer Support Program
N/Central/NE FLFree, confidential peer support for first responders across 20 counties in Northern, Central, and Northeast Florida (including Duval County); call 211 and identify as a first responder.
Call 211Visit WebsiteFirst Responder Project (FRP)
Orange Park, FL501(c)(3) supporting the psychological and emotional needs of first responders through education and training, therapeutic retreats, and peer connection.
866-940-4911 (local: 904-560-5450)Visit WebsiteCISM Team of Southwest Florida
SW FloridaNonprofit volunteer Critical Incident Stress Management team providing free 24/7 ICISF-model services for fire, law enforcement, EMS, corrections, and communications personnel.
239-699-8266Visit Website11th Hour Trauma Retreat
Greenacres, FLIntensive PTSD/trauma resolution therapy program for first responders, veterans, and their families.
772-773-6331Visit WebsiteFlorida Workers' Compensation PTSD Benefits (State Fire Marshal / DFS)
FL StatewideInformation on Florida's first responder PTSD law (Section 112.1815, F.S.) providing workers' compensation benefits for firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and law enforcement officers with work-related PTSD.
Visit WebsiteRegional
Other State & Regional Resources
Based in other states; many serve clients nationwide.
Responder Health
TXConfidential, peer-driven mental health and wellness support for first responders, healthcare professionals, and their families, including a 24/7 Peer Advocate Hotline, app, webinars, and wellness toolkits.
253-243-3701Visit WebsiteHarbor of Grace Recovery
MDResidential and intensive outpatient substance use and mental health treatment exclusively for first responders and veterans, staffed by current and former public safety and military personnel.
443-502-8606 (24/7 admissions)Visit WebsiteRosecrance Florian Program
ILSpecialized residential addiction and behavioral health treatment for firefighters, paramedics, and other uniformed service personnel.
Visit WebsiteFRSN — West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat
CAMulti-day residential treatment program designed for first responders dealing with the cumulative effects of trauma.
Visit WebsiteThe resources listed above are provided for informational purposes. Protecting The Guardian does not operate these services and is not responsible for the content or availability of third-party organizations. In an emergency, always call 911.