VIDEO: First responders in Lubbock are highlighting department wellness programs designed to give officers, firefighters and paramedics access to mental health support.
Dr. Andy Young is part of the Lubbock Police Department’s wellness program. He said he wants first responders to know help is available.
“It’s a general characteristic of people in emergency services that I am here to assist others and for me to burden somebody else, that’s not desirable,” Young said. “However, how are you going to be there for somebody else if no one, you never allow anyone else to be there for you.”
Young said officers, firefighters and paramedics across emergency services have become more open to seeking assistance with their emotions.
“I think a part of that might be the administrative component, too, that when the people who trained you and your bosses were like, nah, gut it out, keep going, that’s what I did, you’ll be fine,” Young said. “But now everyone through the agency sees that maybe that’s not quite the best way to do business. And so, openness among the bosses is translated to openness among the troops.”
KCBD-TV NBC 11 Lubbock