ReThink Mental Health

09/07/2025

The Broken Responder thank you for allowing me to tell a small part of my story. I hope that it encourages and gives hope to others. I enjoyed every moment of this interview and I’m so grateful. If you are struggling. Please please reach out. If not to us, please go to the resources tab on our website. There’s help that isn’t one-size-fits-all. NO ONE ever needs to fight alone. 🎈

Discussing mental health issues with Karen Laber. Karen began her career as an ER Nurse, moving to the ICU and also a Flight Nurse. Karen discovered her pass...

08/19/2025

Please join us in wishing Brianna a happy birthday! Brianna is our administrative assistant and TMS technician here at ReThink Mental Health and Wellness. She is currently studying to earn her mastered degree in counseling with a goal of supporting first responders! We are blessed to have her as part of our team here at ReThink!

05/03/2025

💔 please call us. Text us.. whatever you are comfortable with. We are here for YOU. We care about you and your families.

It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce the passing of Platteville Gilcrest Fire Protection District Member Paramedic Nate Klimek who passed away on Monday, April 28, 2025. Paramedic Klimek was well loved within our agency and had been a valued team member and will be greatly missed.

He leaves behind a wife and three children. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult time.

We kindly ask that the privacy of the family is respected during this time of mourning and grief.

Please direct all questions to our fire district office at 970-817-4219.

05/03/2025

05/01/2025

THIS. This is the very reason that ReThink Mental Health and Wellness exists. We are current and former first responders and or veterans ourselves and we’ve been there too. We are a safe space and place to land for our fellow brothers and sisters in uniform. 

Nicole Bergeron had responded to countless emergencies in two decades as a firefighter and paramedic. But nothing could prepare her for the call when Alexa Bartell was killed by a rock thrown through her windshield.

04/26/2025

Tired of outdated and subpar (at best) VA mental health “care”? Come see us. We are in network with Tricare and Triwest, AND we actually listen to you! Schedule an appointment on our website today! www.rethinkcare.org

04/21/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HCD6mDQLk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

A Paramedic with PTSD fell into a hole and couldn’t get out. When a senior medic walked by, the paramedic called out for help, but the senior medic yelled back, "Suck it up son, dig deep and drive on," then threw him a shovel. The paramedic did as he was told and dug that hole deeper.

A Paramedic Supervisor went by and the paramedic called out for help again. The Supervisor told him "use the tools your supervisor has given you", then threw him a bucket. The paramedic used the tools and he dug the hole deeper still and filled the bucket.

A psychiatrist walked by. The paramedic called, “Help! I can’t get out!” so the psychiatrist gave him some drugs and said, "Take this. It will relieve the pain and you will forget about the hole.” The paramedic said "thanks" and followed his advice, but when the pills ran out he was still in the hole.

A well-known psychologist rode by and heard the paramedic's cries for help. He stopped and asked, “How did you get there? Were you born there? Did your parents put you there? Tell me about yourself, it will alleviate your sense of loneliness.” So the paramedic talked with him for an hour, then the psychologist had to leave, but he said he’d be back next week. The paramedic thanked him, but he was still in the hole.

Another Paramedic, just like him, happened to be passing by. The paramedic with PTSD cried out, “Hey, help me. I’m stuck in this hole!” and right away the other Medic jumped down in there with him. The paramedic with PTSD started to panic and said, “What are you doing? Now we’re both stuck down here!” But the other Medic just smiled and replied, “It’s okay, calm down brother. I’ve been here before..... I know how to get out.”

* Having a good friend that understands is all you need to start recovering... you're never alone even though it might seem that way at times. *

Please reach out to someone if you are struggling.
⠀

04/02/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKQcAzBpKew

We promise that our therapy dog, Lilly, won't act this way, BUT her goofiness will make you laugh, and she gives great doggie hugs!

Anytime y'all need some oxytocin after a stressful day, feel free to swing by for some Lilly hugs...OR, you can find Paul from the video and pet his Chihuahua??

This guy liked to pet his chihuahua's head to relax after a long day of work. However, his pup didn't find it relaxing at all and snarled, barked, and growle...

03/12/2025

This is a photo of one of my dearest friends after a horrible call. It hangs in the lobby in our office. This scene sums up so many unspeakable emotions that all of us have felt at some point. Sometimes its cumulative, sometimes, it's that "one" call we run that never goes away. Sometimes it has nothing to do with work at all. The quote is one that i decided many years ago would be in my office when I made the decision to transition from being a flight nurse to practice psychiatry specifically for First Responders, frontline healthcare, Veterans, and their families. This phrase holds true to EVERY responder; dispatchers, police officers, firefighters, EMS, nursing, veterans, the list goes on.

Today was another difficult day for our local responders, It breaks my heart to post it again so soon. I am posting these resources again that I posted several weeks ago, because it still has so many people to reach. If anyone reads this post suspects the person next to you "maybe" needs help or is struggling, please encourage them to reach out. If you, yourself are that person struggling, we are here, and we care very deeply about helping. We opened our doors several years ago to be a place of safe and private refuge, away from departments, perceived judgments of coworkers, and chaos.

We can and will always make a responder in crisis a priority, and this includes your family. If one life is saved with this post, then mission accomplished. Please call our office at 303-406-0784 if you need help or encourage the friend that is the "maybe" on your mind to call. There is a link for our website below as well.

Here are resources that I posted a few weeks ago:

**Jim Denning authored a book several years ago titled, "Make It to Midnight". (This is a fantastic audiobook that humanizes the very real struggle with acute and/or chronic suicidal ideation and gives very simple and clear ways to get through each day. I advise everyone to read or listen to it.)
The following links are all First Responder and Veteran specific (except 988).

www.rethinkcare.org

https://www.crisistextline.org/
https://www.copline.org/
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
https://www.safecallnowusa.org/
https://www.firstresponder-wellness.com/
https://frontlinerehab.com/helpline/
(Frontline Helpline – 1-866-676-7500 Run by Frontline Responder Services. Offer 24/7 coverage with first responder call-takers.)
https://www.codegreencampaign.org/resources/
https://988lifeline.org/

02/26/2024

Sending love to all of you in eagle county. 🎈

Our hearts are broken. Steve Zuckerman, a full-time paramedic with Eagle County Paramedic Services, died while responding to a backcountry rescue call today in Vail. He was 61 years old.

“Steve was one of the helpers,” said Eagle County Paramedic Services CEO Brandon Daruna. “He never missed an opportunity to contribute and his death leaves a giant void in our organization and community.”

Steve worked Beaver Creek Ski Patrol for more than 25 years and started as a part-time paramedic with Eagle County Paramedic Services in April 2008. He joined our full-time staff in May 2013. He was a member of the Search and Rescue team, a field trainer and was in training as a critical care paramedic. He also served as medical director for the World Cup races in Beaver Creek.

In a social media post for Eagle County Paramedic Services, Steve wrote, “EMS is a team sport and I work on an amazing team. Each day brings new challenges and new opportunities to practice field emergency medicine and to make a small difference.”

Steve made a difference every day; there are really no words.