Kaine Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Address Firefighter, First Responder Mental Health

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee, announced his co-sponsorship of the bipartisan Helping Emergency Responders Overcome (HERO) Act, which would support the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) data collection efforts on first responder suicides and direct HHS to develop best practices for identifying and treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and combating suicide among firefighters and other first responders. The bill also establishes a grant program for peer-to-peer counseling programs to address mental health challenges for first responders. The HERO Act was first introduced by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Deb Fischer (R-NE).

“We must address the mental health challenges our firefighters and other first responders face risking their lives to protect our communities,” said Senator Kaine. “I’m pleased to support the HERO Act to help develop best practices to treat PTSD, combat suicide, and increase access to peer-to-peer counseling programs for first responders.”

Senator Kaine has championed promoting mental health services, especially for health care providers and public safety officers risking their lives in the line of duty. In February, Kaine introduced the bipartisan Public Safety Officer Support Act, legislation to support the families of public safety officers who struggle with their mental health or who are lost to trauma-linked suicides — such as the families of Virginia Officers Jeffrey Smith and Howard Liebengood, who died by suicide after the January 6 attack on democracy. In April 2020, Kaine and Senator Angus King (I-ME) led calls for increased investments for mental health resources in upcoming COVID-19 relief legislation. Senator Kaine also recently successfully passed legislation to boost mental health support for health care workers.

According to a 2018 report by the Ruderman Family Foundation, more firefighters die by suicide than in the line of duty. The bipartisan HERO Act addresses the fact that first responders may be at higher risk for suicide and mental illness than other professions by providing for the study and treatment of the mental health challenges that first responders face.

Specifically, the HERO Act would:

• Support efforts by HHS to collect data and report to Congress biannually on first responder suicide rates;
• Require HHS to identify risk factors and possible interventions and recommended interventions for further study;
• Establish grants for peer-to-peer counseling for fire departments and emergency medical services agencies; and
• Require HHS to develop and distribute best practices on the prevention and treatment of post-traumatic stress among first responders.

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