OHIO — Governor Mike DeWine announced a $9.9 million investment into 62 first-responder agencies across Ohio on Wednesday.

What You Need To Know

  • Governor DeWine is investing nearly $10 million in first-responder agencies 

  • The money will address wellness and staffing issues 

  • Better mental health for first responders can aid their ability to do their job

  • The money is going toward things such as wellness evaluations, peer support training and wellness apps

The money will go toward addressing wellness and staffing issues.

Amy Bock, a certified first responder counselor, said the investment into the mental health of first responders is very important. 

“It really will be life-changing, if not life-saving, for so many,” she said.

She said that first responders go through extreme stress with their job.

“The sheer magnitude of trauma and violence that they’re exposed to over the course of their career,” said Bock.

Bock said she sees first responder patients that struggle with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder from their jobs. This investment will create programs such as peer-support training, wellness evaluations and wellness apps. 

“This will really increase access and just normalize the effects of this career,” she said. 

An investment in the mental health of first responders can help the work that they do in the community. Bock said she hopes this makes their lives better, but also makes them better in their career.

“Improving that will only strengthen their interactions and relationships with the community,” she said.

Another added benefit, Bock said, is this will hopefully diminish the stigma that surrounds asking for help as a first responder.