First responders are our frontline heroes. They rush to the scene in the most critical and dangerous situations. Their compassion leads them to address crimes for victims’ families, rush into burning homes, and comfort those whose loved ones are sadly now a memory.

Behind their bravery, their badge, and hidden cape is an issue often overlooked - their mental health.

Upfront Gwinnett: Suffering in Silence (Part 3) examines those hidden struggles faced by those who selflessly save lives and the resources available to help them.

Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson said addressing the complexities of navigating the mental health needs of residents in the County has been a challenge over the years.

“The pandemic has certainly exacerbated the issue. We had so many children returning to school after being isolated for almost two years. You've had the stress and the strain of people losing their jobs, losing their homes, not knowing where they were going to get their meal. And in just isolation in general. You've also had people dealing with deaths related to the pandemic and the COVID-19 disease. So, it has taken a toll on our community,” Hendrickson said.

Gwinnett Police Chief J.D. McClure said officers ensure the public is safe through intense training.

“During the course of our approximate 24-week academy, our officers are going to receive approximately 88 hours of training. This is related to mental health, interpersonal relations, and saving lives,” McClure said.

When asked about Gwinnett's Fire & Emergency Services role when responding to a scene involving police, Chief Fred Cephas said the first priority for his team is to address any underlying medical issues in the situation.

“For instance, we’re going to get in there and start vital signs as soon as possible,” Cephas said.

For 15 years, Gwinnett Police Lt. Frederick Saldana served on the Critical Incident Stress Management Support Team. When Upfront Gwinnett asked him to talk about first responders and mental healing, he jumped at the chance.

“It became a passion for me four years ago when I had an officer come to me who was struggling with their mental health and had suicidal ideations, and at the time I didn’t have the training or the resources to be able to help them,” Saldana said.

A study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration revealed that these heroes are more likely to suffer from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. 30% of first responders develop behavioral health issues compared to 20% of the general population, according to the study.

“It’s the constantly seeing bad things happen to people and death and seeing it every day over time is going to compound and become a bigger issue. A lot of people not asking for that help is going to lead to believe there is no hope, and the only way out is through suicide,” Saldana added.

Alcoholism in the profession of being is also extremely high, according to Saldana.

There is also a stigma of speaking out about mental health being a sign of weakness. Chief Cephas said there is hope and strength in shared purposes.

“If you’re talking to someone who can not relate to what you are going through, a lot of times public safety members don’t want to talk. They are more app to speak to someone who understands them, who has an experienced similar incident that they’ve responded to, so it’s the right person that helps in that matter,” he said.

After any traumatic event, Gwinnett Fire & Emergency Services’ own Critical Incident Stress Team responds to responders, and they also use a course called GUIDE.

“GUIDE is an 8-hour course that we’ve done for the last two years. We’ve run all of our personnel through to make sure we talk about incidents like this, and how to deal with stress, and how to recognize stresses,” Cephas said.

Gwinnett Police also introduced mandatory counseling for its units experiencing high levels of trauma as well.

“There’s a lot of a large amount of first responder, military veterans programs that are starting to come up because the need is so high. When an officer knows the chief of police is going to support them getting whole, happy, and healthy again that’s huge because they don’t have to worry about their job,” Saldana said.

With that support, Lt. Saldana can send police officers to inpatient treatment facilities across the country.

“When they go to these facilities, the program lasts as long as the officer needs it. They’ve really started creating an aftercare program, so when they get back and they’re out of the sterile environment, they will now get the resources to continue that sobriety,” Saldana said. “There’s hope and there’s help because your legacy isn’t tied to what you do while wearing this uniform. Your legacy is going to be tied with those who you love.”

If you or a loved one are experiencing a crisis and need immediate assistance, call 988 to speak with a mental health professional or call 911 for law enforcement assistance.