Looking to assist first responders in the wake of increasingly common and devastating wildfires across the state, California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed bills increasing access to mental health services, according to an article in Gizmodo. These bills are designed to:
Louie Chagolla, who has fought wildfires in California for the last five years with the U.S. Forest Service, told Gizmodo about the support provided by the bill. “We all have things that we might be going through, and sometimes it might be a little bit hard,” he said. “So the fact that they’re doing this to have [mental health services] even more available, I think, is great.”
In a release, the governor said that the bill was meant to help workers who may need help themselves. “The job of firefighters and first responders can be very rewarding, but at the same time, extremely unpredictable. They can experience high-stress situations and traumatic incidents that can push them to the limit both physically and mentally, and we need to recognize and take those challenges head on,” said Newsom. “These bills are meant to ensure they have access to resources and help in their time of need, in the same way they assist their communities when they need them most.”
A study from the Ruderman Family Foundation found that first responders in the U.S. are more likely to die from suicide than in the line of duty.
Source: https://earther.gizmodo.com/california-is-prioritizing-mental-health-among-firefigh-1838714051
