Beyond the Call, a new intensive outpatient program created by first responders for first responders, has launched in Middle Tennessee to address the growing mental health crisis among emergency professionals.

First responders face significant mental health risks:

• About 30% develop PTSD or depression, compared with about 20% in the general population, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

• Thirty-seven percent of fire and EMS personnel report seriously considering suicide, nearly 10 times higher than the general population.

  

• Police officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty.

• Alcohol use is common as a coping mechanism, with studies showing first responders drink at higher rates than the general population, often in connection with unprocessed trauma.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and across EMS, fire and law enforcement, normalizing conversations about mental health is more critical than ever. Beyond the Call offers a confidential, first responder–focused environment with evidence-based care for police officers, firefighters, EMS workers and dispatchers. The program prioritizes mental health while also addressing alcohol and substance use that often develop as coping mechanisms for job-related stress and trauma.

A therapist with 11 years of law enforcement experience leads the program, which is available both in person and virtually to meet the demands of first responders’ schedules.

“Too many first responders treat trauma like just part of the job,” said Jody Babb, MSed, LMHC, LPC-MHSP, with Ascension Saint Thomas Behavioral Health Hospital. “Beyond the Call gives them a safe space to face that trauma, reduce risky coping, and build lifelong resilience.”

Local departments and peer support teams can schedule a lunch-and-learn or program overview to learn how Beyond the Call can support their members. Media interviews are available with clinical staff and program partners.

About: Ascension Saint Thomas Behavioral Health Hospital 

Ascension Saint Thomas Behavioral Health Hospital is a leading provider of inpatient programming for adults who are struggling with behavioral health concerns. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, our hospital offers holistic, high-quality care in a safe, supportive environment to help patients achieve improved quality of life. Patients who receive care at Ascension Saint Thomas Behavioral Health Hospital work with a knowledgeable, compassionate staff that is committed to helping each person find lasting health and well-being. For more information, please visit Ascension Saint Thomas Behavioral Health Hospital. 

Ascension Saint Thomas is a leading health care system with a 125-year history of providing care to the community, and is the only faith-based, nonprofit health system in Middle Tennessee. The system includes 18 hospitals and 320 sites of care across a 45-county area in Tennessee, including a network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and specialty facilities. Across the state, Ascension Saint Thomas and its partner organizations employ more than 13,000 dedicated associates who care for millions of patients each year. Ascension Saint Thomas is part of Ascension, one of the nation’s largest faith-based healthcare organizations committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension includes approximately 134,000 associates, 35,000 affiliated providers and 140 hospitals, serving communities in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visit ascension.org.