The program has been up and running for a month, providing mental health services to first responders.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Emergency Medical Services are often some of the first people on scene for life’s worst moments.
“When they go on a call and say there’s a really bad car accident, they’re literally holding someone who may have catastrophic injuries,” Said Dr. Julius Jefferies, a licensed Mental Health Professional, “They may be holding a child that’s taking it’s last breath, they may be comforting a family member while they watch their loved ones being worked on.”
Which is why it’s important for people to be there for first responders. AMR is partnering with local therapists and mental health professionals to provide in-house mental health care for first responders.
“The reason they need those resources is kind of how to navigate that and how to internalize and process that because that’s just their job, but they still have the rest of their life going on,” said Jefferies.
Dr. Jefferies has been practicing in the Knoxville area for a number of years and has recently partnered with AMR for this project. He said this is a great way for him to help out his community. “My clients are made up of a lot of KPD, firefighters, nurses, EMS, and it takes a very special heart and specialization to work with them and that’s something I wanted to do to give back.”
Jefferies said that for a lot of EMS personnel that he sees, it can be hard for them to put their mental health first. But, for the line of work they’re in, it’s extremely important. “A lot of times there’s that barrier where they feel like if they ask for help it’s a sign of weakness or that they can’t do their job, when in reality asking for help is the best thing you can do, having that type of job.”
The program has been in the works for around a month. Jefferies said once it grows a little more, they hope to expand into other needs that first responders may have.