Mend the Line, a non-profit organization in Lincoln County, Kentucky, is dedicated to supporting the mental health of first responders, helping them manage the emotional toll of their demanding jobs.
First responders — including EMTs, firefighters, and police officers — often face traumatic and high-stress situations that take a serious toll on their mental health. However, mental health resources specifically for first responders are often overlooked. That’s where Mend the Line steps in. Founded in 2023 by Sonya Kirkpatrick, a therapist and former EMT, the organization provides much-needed mental health support tailored to the unique challenges these professionals face.
Sonya Kirkpatrick, the organization’s president, explains, “Just the compounding recurring trauma, what to do with that, how to manage that. It’s something that they don’t really teach when you’re learning how to do those jobs.” First responders are trained to handle emergencies and physical tasks, but the emotional and psychological challenges they face are rarely addressed in training. Mend the Line aims to fill that gap, offering resources and support for these often-overlooked mental health needs.
A Focus on Mental Health for First Responders
In her role as a therapist, Sonya has seen firsthand the emotional toll that working in emergency services can take. She explains that first responders experience recurring trauma from witnessing accidents, death, and other distressing events. Over time, this trauma can build up, causing issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD, often without proper outlets for coping.
Sonya’s husband, Stanford Police Captain Ryan Kirkpatrick, who has spent two decades working as an EMT, firefighter, and police officer, adds that for many first responders, mental health was not a topic of discussion until recently. He notes that it has only been in the past few years that agencies have started acknowledging the importance of mental health in first responder communities.
“All the training we do, everything we do, we always tell people, ‘Save these tools for your toolbox.’ Well, now we’re starting to understand that we need a mental health toolbox,” says Ryan. This shift in mindset is crucial, as it emphasizes the importance of mental well-being alongside physical and operational readiness.
Ryan also acknowledges the challenge of internalizing trauma. “You kind of want to file those things away, because obviously if you kept them at the forefront of your memory, it would drive you insane,” he says. “But where I noticed it, was it started spilling out with my family.” This highlights the far-reaching effects of untreated mental health issues, which can affect both the individual and their loved ones.
A Helping Hand: Funding and Services for Mental Health Support
Mend the Line’s efforts to support first responders have been growing, thanks in part to donations and grants from local businesses. In a recent show of support, the communications company MCA donated $11,000 to the organization, which will go directly toward providing mental health services for first responders.
Sonya says, “Even co-pays can be expensive, things like that. So, we want to be able to help ease that burden because money should not be a barrier to asking for help.” This donation is vital in making sure that cost doesn’t prevent first responders from seeking the care they need. The organization has already held more than a dozen mental health sessions, helping over 300 first responders in just a short time since its founding.
Mend the Line offers counseling, therapy, and mental health workshops for first responders, giving them a safe space to discuss their struggles and access professional care. The organization is committed to ensuring that these professionals have access to mental health resources without the stigma often associated with seeking help.
Changing the Conversation on Mental Health
Ryan Kirkpatrick believes that the stigma surrounding mental health is a major obstacle for first responders. “It’s not always comfortable to be vulnerable, but vulnerability, like I said, doesn’t have to be a weakness,” he explains. “It can be a strength to notice that something is going on, that you’re struggling with something, and be able to ask for help.” Changing the conversation about vulnerability and mental health is a key goal of Mend the Line, as it seeks to normalize seeking help within the first responder community.
The organization’s efforts are critical in ensuring that those who serve on the front lines of emergencies have the support and care they need to maintain their mental well-being. As Sonya Kirkpatrick sums up, “We want to make sure that first responders know they are not alone, that there is help available, and that it’s okay to ask for that help.” Mend the Line’s growing impact is a testament to the importance of addressing mental health within first responder communities and providing the resources necessary for them to thrive both personally and professionally.
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