During Suicide Prevention Month, Governor Hochul announces new mental health training to strengthen support for first responders across New York

Albany, New York – New York is expanding its efforts to address the mental health needs of first responders with a new online training program designed for mental health professionals who work with, or are considering working with, emergency personnel.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the new First Responder Mental Health and Cultural Awareness Training during Suicide Prevention Month. The one-hour program was developed by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and focuses on the particular pressures faced by people working in public safety.

The training is intended for professionals who provide mental health services to 911 dispatchers, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, firefighters and other first responders. It is designed to help providers better understand the culture of emergency response work and some of the reasons first responders may hesitate to seek mental health care.

“First responders see things in their day-to-day work that people in other lines of work could only imagine — it’s crucial that we provide the best resources and support to ensure others can help them take care of themselves as much as they take care of others,” Governor Hochul said. “The professionals who serve our first responders need to understand the complexities of such work and this training will go a long way to ensure our responders can get the care that they deserve. Our communities are better because of the work they do and we must show up to support them.”

The new course comes after the state examined the mental health needs of first responders across New York. A First Responder Mental Health Needs Assessment released by Hochul in February 2025 included input from more than 6,000 emergency professionals statewide.

The assessment found that more than half of people working in public safety fields reported high levels of stress, burnout and mental health challenges. It also identified a shortage of mental health professionals with the cultural understanding needed to effectively work with first responders.

That finding is one of the reasons the new training places such a strong emphasis on understanding the work itself.

First responders often encounter stressful and traumatic situations as part of their regular duties. The new course gives mental health professionals information about those working environments and the factors that can affect a responder’s willingness or ability to seek treatment.

The training is centered on suicide prevention and includes videos specifically focused on first responder professions. Participants also work through scenarios and interactive exercises intended to help them recognize and respond to situations that may arise when treating first responders.

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Several areas are covered during the course. Participants learn about the daily work and culture of first responders, risk and protective factors, and possible barriers that can prevent people from seeking mental health care.

The program also addresses how to recognize and assess suicidal thoughts. It provides information on intermediate intervention strategies as well as approaches for continued care.

Mental health professionals who successfully complete the course can also receive continuing education credit, giving providers an additional reason to take part while expanding their knowledge of a specialized area of mental health care.

The new program is the second course in a series focused on first responder mental health and cultural awareness. It adds another layer to a growing collection of state-supported programs intended to improve mental health services and wellness resources for emergency personnel.

Terence O’Leary, commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, said first responders routinely face circumstances that can place significant emotional pressure on them.

“First responders are the backbone of public safety, and their jobs come with a heaviness many of us will never experience. I thank Governor Hochul for prioritizing the well-being of our first responders, as well as Dr. Sullivan and the Office of Mental Health for their partnership in knocking down barriers to treatment and removing the stigma to ask for help.”

The state Office of Mental Health is also involved in the broader effort. Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said that managing stress and building resilience are important for everyone, while noting the particular demands placed on first responders.

“Mitigating stress, building resilience and supporting mental wellbeing is important for all New Yorkers, but especially for first responders. This new training along with other state-funded initiatives are helping our first responders recognize the impact stress and cumulative trauma can take and helping these agencies promote a focus on self-care. This continued focus represents Governor Hochul’s commitment to the mental wellness of our first responders and their families.”

The training is being offered through the learning management systems operated by DHSES and OMH. Mental health professionals who complete it are eligible for continuing education credits.

The state is also pairing the new course with additional suicide prevention activities this month.

The Office of Mental Health’s CARES UP initiative is offering a series of webinars focused on suicide prevention. Some sessions feature first responders who have personally navigated suicidal thoughts and other difficult experiences.

CARES UP has already worked with dozens of emergency service agencies to strengthen suicide prevention and wellness programs. According to the state, the initiative has helped 53 emergency service agencies improve their programs, reaching more than 33,000 first responders.

Those agencies work with the Suicide Prevention Center of New York and receive training from national experts on subjects including resilience, mental health and wellness, suicide prevention and peer support.

The program also helps agencies develop actions tailored to their own needs rather than relying on a single approach for every emergency service organization.

New York has also developed other resources for agencies seeking to establish or expand wellness programs for their personnel.

DHSES recently released a Responder Wellness Program Primer, an informational resource intended to help state and local public safety agencies develop or strengthen wellness programs. The state has also released a video explaining the unique mental health needs of first responders and launched a website devoted specifically to first responder mental health and wellness.

The latest training is therefore part of a larger effort rather than a stand-alone initiative.

Another major component of New York’s suicide prevention work is the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The service connects people with trained crisis counselors at any time of day or night and is available to people experiencing a mental health crisis, thinking about suicide, dealing with substance use concerns or facing other forms of emotional distress.

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People can also contact 988 if they are worried about someone else and believe that person may need immediate crisis support.

New York’s 988 system has seen substantial use. According to the state, the service recorded more than 51,000 calls in August alone, second only to California among states.

Hochul has made the 988 service one of the central parts of her mental health initiatives and secured more than $60 million in funding for the program. That funding includes support for a public awareness campaign that is now entering its third year.

Earlier this month, Hochul also announced the New York State Roadmap for Suicide Prevention. The roadmap is intended to guide the state’s suicide prevention work during the next five years.

The plan includes three major components: a statewide strategy outlining prevention goals and objectives, a Suicide Prevention Task Force Report containing recommendations aimed at reducing disparities among groups at greater risk, and an action plan describing specific steps for moving the work forward.

The new first responder training fits into that broader strategy by focusing on a population that can face repeated exposure to stressful and traumatic situations as part of their jobs.

State Senator Samra Brouk, chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee, said specialized training can play a role in helping people receive appropriate support.

“As Chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee, I recognize that mental health training can save lives. That’s why I’ve long supported youth mental health training and veterans mental health initiatives. I applaud Governor Hochul for announcing new online training for mental health professionals working with our first responders so they are supported and cared for as they work to protect our community members.”

Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon also emphasized the importance of having mental health providers who understand the working conditions faced by emergency personnel.

“First responders experience immense pressure every day, and when they seek help, they need a mental health professional who understands the demands of their work. Informed by the input from more than 6,000 First Responders, this new training will help ensure more providers are prepared to support those on the front lines. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for prioritizing first responders’ mental health.”

For first responders, seeking help can sometimes involve concerns about how their work will be understood by people outside their profession. The state training is intended to give mental health providers a clearer picture of that culture and the pressures that can influence how emergency workers respond to mental health care.

By focusing on cultural awareness alongside suicide prevention, the course aims to prepare providers to recognize warning signs while also understanding the environment in which first responders live and work.

The approach reflects the findings of the state’s needs assessment, which gathered information directly from thousands of emergency professionals. Rather than treating first responder mental health as identical to the needs of the general population, the new course addresses the specific circumstances identified through that assessment.

The state says its continuing work is intended not only to help first responders who are already struggling, but also to encourage stronger wellness programs within emergency service agencies.

For DHSES, the focus remains connected to its broader public safety mission. The agency provides leadership and support for preparing for, responding to and recovering from emergencies, including natural disasters, fires, terrorism and other threats.

The new mental health course adds another dimension to that mission by addressing the well-being of the people who respond when emergencies occur.

As New York continues its suicide prevention work, officials are emphasizing that support for first responders should include both emergency response resources and long-term mental health care.

The new First Responder Mental Health and Cultural Awareness Training is now available through the DHSES and OMH learning management systems. Mental health professionals who complete the course can receive continuing education credit while gaining training specifically focused on the needs and experiences of first responders.

The initiative comes during Suicide Prevention Month, but the state programs involved are intended to continue beyond the month-long awareness effort. Through training, agency wellness programs, peer support, the 988 Lifeline and the state’s broader suicide prevention roadmap, New York is building a network of resources aimed at addressing mental health concerns among first responders and the communities they serve. You can learn more on this link.