The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota is placing a renewed focus on the mental health of its staff, recognizing the profound toll that emergency response work can take on first responders.
Sheriff Gordon Ramsay emphasized the emotional strain that comes with the job, noting that emergency personnel regularly encounter distressing and traumatic situations. “Over time, this really takes a toll,” Ramsay said. “We want to make sure we’re providing support and doing everything we can to ensure the wellbeing of our employees.”
Commander Wade Lash, who coordinates the department’s peer support team, noted that society has made substantial progress in mental health awareness and support. He recalled how one recently retired staff member frequently advocated for therapy and counseling, encouraging younger officers to seek help and openly discussing the benefits of mental health care—a conversation that would have been rare in law enforcement two decades ago.
“In the past, we just didn’t talk about those things, and we certainly didn’t promote them,” Lash said.
He explained that after major incidents, involved personnel undergo a structured process of defusing and debriefing. “Before everyone goes home at the end of their shift, we bring together all who responded to the incident. A peer will guide a defusing session to talk about their reactions and feelings,” Lash said. “Then, usually a few days later, we hold a formal debriefing with everyone who had a role in the response—EMTs, firefighters, and other agencies—to reflect on the event together.”
All emergency responders are offered the opportunity to talk to someone—whether a peer or a licensed clinician—about what they’ve experienced. Lash emphasized the importance of involving all departments in this support system, including law enforcement officers, jail staff, 911 dispatchers, and volunteer rescue squads.
“Each person involved has the opportunity to process the incident and understand their role and the impact it had,” Lash said.
Peer supporters receive specialized training to speak with colleagues confidentially. Lash noted that having a fellow responder to talk to can often be more helpful than a therapist unfamiliar with the realities of emergency work. “Sometimes, talking to someone who hasn’t been in the field, even a clinician, doesn’t fully resonate. Peer-led efforts really build credibility and trust. We’ve found that approach extremely helpful,” he said.
Providing adequate mental health support allows first responders to better serve their communities. “I’m encouraged by the progress we’ve made in my time here,” Lash said. “As a profession, we’re becoming more aware of the importance of mental health support for our personnel. In the long run, I believe this will have a positive effect on both our county and the citizens we serve.”
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