Lighthouse Health & Wellness

07/28/2025

First Responder Resource Spotlight Series! EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR THOSE SUPPORTING FIRST RESPONDERS.

Lighthouse for Public Safety is here to help agencies provide their staff the resources, technology, training, and communication tools they need to not just survive, but thrive—both on and off the job. We do this by introducing agencies to resources that can make a huge impact on first responders, and we are always excited to introduce you to some of the amazing organizations we represent and that partner with us. Today we're sharing about the Certified First Responder Counselor Program offered through Academy Hour and Lighthouse for Public Safety.

The Certified First Responder Counselor Program was developed to give mental health clinicians and other individuals the tools needed to effectively reach and support first responders with cultural competence, expertise, confidence, and empathy. Informed by collaboration with officers and responders at all levels and in all areas, as well as consulting with counselors and psychologists who have experience in working in this field, the courses seamlessly blend the latest mental health and leadership approaches with real-world relevance. The Certified First Responder Counselor, and the related Associate, and Supporter tracks, are online, self-paced training programs with a certification exam required at the end. All of the tracks include specialized training to help students understand the unique needs of public safety professionals. For more information about the Certified First Responder Counselor program call 949-305-7008 or go to https://www.firstrespondercounselor.com/

Not just any counselor/therapist is right for the unique needs of Frst Responders and LEnforcement. A Certified First Responder Counselor is specially trained for the unique needs of these heroes.

07/25/2025

🌟 This National Hire a Veteran Day, we recognize the resilience and expertise veterans bring to the table. Many veterans transition into crucial roles as firefighters, police officers, and EMTs, continuing their service to our communities. Join us in supporting their journey! 🚓🚨

07/21/2025

Maintaining a good work-life balance is critical for first responders to be able to perform at their best. Check out this video with actionable steps to support maintaining healthy priorities and boundaries, so you can get the most out of life.

07/17/2025

Check out this video with 3 surprising ways to help optimize your sleep as a first responder.

07/14/2025

As strategic partners of ICISF, we deeply resonate with their "4 Pillars of Preparedness": Plan, Practice, Prepare, and Pivot. This powerful framework reminds us that true resilience comes from proactive action. As the Navy Seals wisely put it, "In a crisis, you won't rise to the occasion, you'll sink to the level of your training." Let's all commit to strengthening our preparedness! Learn more about ICISF's mission at www.icisf.org.

07/12/2025

This one's for the spouses--check out this video for tips on how to help with that transition from work to home life after a tough shift.

07/10/2025

Course spotlight! Academy Hour offers FREE video format training courses for first responders, available online, on-demand, at your convenience. Check out this popular course from the catalog:

Burnout: Staying Out of the Red Zone

Protect your well-being with our insightful 30-day online course, "Burnout: Staying Out of the Red Zone." Designed to help you navigate the challenges of prolonged anxiety and stress, this course explores the causes and signs of anxiety, its impact on mental, emotional, and physical health, and effective strategies to prevent it from escalating into stress and burnout. You will learn to recognize the phases of anxiety turning into stress, understand the detrimental effects of life stressors on your health, and discover methods to undo the damage caused by these stressors. With practical techniques for reversing the effects of anxiety and stress, and identifying effective treatment methods, this course equips you with the tools to maintain a healthy balance in your life. Enroll now and take the first step toward a healthier, stress-free future.

Register Here: https://www.academyhour.com/offers/irzSvPkY/checkout

While normal anxiety isn't necessarily bad for us, long-lasting anxiety becomes stress, and long-term stress can turn into burnout. Learn the causes and signs of anxiety and how it affects our physiological, mental and emotional health, and how to keep from letting your anxiety become stress, and av...

06/27/2025

June 27 – National PTSD Awareness Day

It’s not weakness. It’s not failure. It’s trauma—and it’s treatable.

For first responders, PTSD doesn’t always look like the movies. It shows up in the sleepless nights, the emotional shut-down, the anger you can’t explain, the feeling that your mind is always “on.”

📉 You’re not alone. PTSD affects thousands of public safety professionals—law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatch—more than twice the rate of the general population.

💡 Today is about breaking the silence.
If you’ve been carrying more than you can manage, now is the time to reach out. If someone you work with or love is struggling, check in. And if you lead a team, ask what kind of support you’re really offering.

🛠️ Resources to Start With:
🔗 https://www.firstrespondercounselor.com – Find therapists who get responder life
🔗 https://www.ptsd.va.gov – Tools, education, and treatment info
🔗 https://www.lighthousehw.org – Wellness resources for responders and families

🙌 Help is out there. You just have to take the first step.

06/18/2025

Resilience isn't just about bouncing back; it's about growing beyond. As a proud strategic partner of the ICISF, we believe in the power of their "4 Stages of Resilience." From prevention to growth, they're helping build stronger individuals and teams. Learn more about how to lift others and transform your agency's culture: www.icisf.org

06/16/2025

One trained peer can change a life. Or save one.

First responders face relentless stress—and they don’t always reach out. That’s why peer support isn’t optional anymore. It’s essential.

👥 Peer supporters offer judgment-free connection
📚 Our training is built for first responder culture
🧭 Programs available for both teammates & leaders

We’re helping agencies create trusted, trauma-informed support networks from the inside out. And it starts with the right training.

🌐 Learn how to start or strengthen peer support in your department:
https://www.lighthousehw.org/news/why-peer-support-matters-building-a-culture-of-care-in-first-responder-agencies/

First responders are trained to face chaos, trauma, and high-stakes decisions every day. But behind the uniform is a human being—one who carries the emotional

06/15/2025

This Father’s Day, Don’t Forget the Silent Load

First responder dads don’t always talk about what they’ve seen.
They may not say much about the stress they carry.
But they show up—with strength, humor, and quiet sacrifice.

Today or this week, take a moment to check in with the fathers in your life or on your team:
👂 Listen if they need to talk
🧠 Support their mental health, not just their hard work
📣 Let them know it’s okay to ask for help, too

Fatherhood is an act of love.
Being a first responder is an act of service.
Doing both deserves real recognition—not just today, but every day.

06/10/2025

June is PTSD Awareness Month - Support Starts with Understanding

Families, Leaders, and Peers—Here’s How to Help

If you’re a spouse, partner, coworker, or supervisor of a first responder struggling with trauma, you can make a difference—but support has to be informed.

Here’s how to show up:
✔️ Listen without trying to fix
✔️ Avoid judgment or minimizing their pain
✔️ Encourage professional support, not just “talking it out”
✔️ Learn about culturally competent care that meets responders where they are

🔥 Agencies: Don’t wait for a crisis. Proactively connect your team with peer support, trained therapists, and wellness programs.

🔗 Find trained professionals: https://www.firstrespondercounselor.com

🧡 PTSD Awareness Month is about more than awareness—it’s about action.