By Ande Richards | For Mosaic
nj.com
NEWARK, N.J. 鈥� Ron Glover was a Newark police officer for 26 years and says not knowing what each day would bring was stressful.
鈥淓ach day brought something completely different,鈥� said the retired lieutenant, 60. 鈥淥ne day, you could be on a high chasing criminals, and the next, you might be trying to save a baby鈥檚 life or delivering a child. When I was off, I drank because of the stress from the job 鈥� but I stopped 10 years ago. Smoking cigars and drinking鈥� that was a recipe for disaster.鈥�
Glover鈥檚 experience is not uncommon among first responders. However, data suggests that Black first responders including systemic racism within their communities and workplaces.
鈥淧aramedics, firefighters, EMS personnel, and police officers are at heightened risk for depression, PTSD, anxiety, burnout, and substance use, largely due to the intense stress and repeated trauma they face on the job,鈥� said Dr. Brendan Guarino, a therapist who specializes in treating first responders.
Through his program at Baker Street Behavioral Health, Guarino treats first responders and their families in its North Jersey location and at six other sites across the state.
He says that helping first responders recognize the loss of identity they often experience outside their roles, providing tools for well-being and reframing mental health progress can significantly improve how they manage these challenges.
Guarino鈥檚 father, uncle, and cousin were all firefighters, which gave him valuable insight into the pressures, trauma, and identity struggles those in service-oriented professions face.
Still, he鈥檚 optimistic, noting a growing trend toward destigmatizing mental health support in these communities.
鈥淥ne of the biggest shifts is that younger generations in law enforcement, the fire department, and dispatchers are allowing themselves to advocate more for increased mental health initiatives,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd social media plays a major part in normalizing and reducing bias and help seeking behaviors.鈥�
According to ScienceDirect, experience depression. Among them, 67% report mild symptoms, 24% report moderate depression, and 16% experience severe episodes. When broken down by role, 37% of paramedics report symptoms of depression, followed by 28% of EMS personnel and 22% of police officers.
The actual numbers may be even higher, Guarino said, since many individuals either don鈥檛 recognize they have a problem or aren鈥檛 willing to disclose struggles with addiction or depression.
In his work with first responders, he uses a range of tools to treat depression and other mental health challenges.
Guarino outlined a three-part approach to supporting first responders: reclaiming identity beyond the badge; building resilience through daily mental health practices; and redefining progress in treatment.
He encourages cultivating a sense of self outside the uniform, using tools like visualization, journaling, and peer check-ins to strengthen well-being, and recognizing that setbacks are part of the journey 鈥� with small wins counting just as much as major breakthroughs.
As a complement to therapy, Baker Street incorporates peer specialists who collaborate closely with therapists and social workers.
Thomas Nunn, 48, began his first responder journey as a volunteer firefighter at 18 and used alcohol for 20 years to cope with job-related stress. He later recognized that underlying mental health issues were also at play.
鈥淎 lot of times, there鈥檚 no downtime,鈥� says Nunn, describing what shifts can be like. 鈥淎nd when you hear those emergencies, the shooting or the 911 or the CPR in progress, you鈥檙e sitting there in a position where you can do no more than listen to what鈥榮 going on out there. It does have an impact on you.鈥�
After retiring last year, Nunn became a peer recovery specialist to support fellow first responders and veterans.
Nunn says he is a bridge between the therapists and the clients and uses his personal experiences to open the door for communication and getting to the heart of the individual鈥檚 issues.
鈥淲hen someone comes in, my job is to help them think, 鈥極kay, I can trust this person,鈥欌�� Nunn said. 鈥淚 tell them, 鈥業鈥檝e been there 鈥� I was a fireman, an EMT, a dispatcher.鈥� Then I share my story. If they鈥檙e struggling with alcohol, I focus on my own experience with it.
鈥淥ften, they open up to me more than they would to others. Then, I can relay that information to the team 鈥� therapists, doctors, and social workers. Because I work in a clinical setting, I鈥檓 able to give them insight they might not otherwise receive.鈥�
Nunn said support helped him through his struggles.
鈥淚 got help 鈥� and this is how I did it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 let them know that there are resources available. We have outpatient options, psychiatrists, and therapists. It鈥榮 about repeating the message, over and over, so they hear it and really believe it: it鈥榮 okay to not be okay.鈥�
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