Compared to the general population, police and firefighters face heightened risks of depression, PTSD and suicide, and they are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty, according to a 2018 report commissioned by the Ruderman Family Foundation, which advocates for people with disabilities.

At least 33 first responders have taken their own lives in Georgia since 2018, according to First H.E.L.P., a charity that fights mental health stigma. Most were men who held jobs in law enforcement.

Ambitious plans

The Hale Foundation, a nonprofit that helps men recover from drug and alcohol addiction, met with stiff opposition from Augusta residents for years as it sought to transform a former convent into Valor Station. Neighbors said they worried about safety and their property values. Ultimately, the foundation failed to win approval from the Augusta-Richmond County Commission.

The foundation sued in state and federal district courts. After losing those legal battles, the foundation switched to a location closer to Hale House, its addiction recovery center for men in Olde Town Augusta.

In preparation for Valor Station’s opening, Hale Foundation CEO Cliff Richards and a few colleagues checked out the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program, which treats military veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Some of Emory’s patients have also held civilian jobs as first responders.

“I found there are a lot of parallels between what they are doing and being successful at with the military and what we are trying to do here with first responders,” said Matthew Carpenter, a former New York City police officer who serves as Valor Station’s chief administrative officer.

Sheila Rauch, deputy director of the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program, also sees overlap.

“There are a lot of similarities. Both first responders and military populations have high rates of exposure to trauma,” Rauch said.

Valor Station plans to offer some of the same forms of treatment the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department has found effective for military veterans with PTSD.

Among them are individual and group talk therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, in which patients are instructed to discuss their traumatic experiences while focusing on blinking lights and vibrations. Patients from across the United States with and without medical insurance will be welcomed at Valor Station, Banish said.

“We want to open at least two on the East Coast and two on the West Coast, and hopefully have one or two centrally located, so officers don’t have to travel as far to get treatment,” said Jim Banish, the founder and president of the New York Law Enforcement Assistance Program, a nonprofit that aims to prevent PTSD and suicide.

2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

All across the country, people can welcome 2025 with an inspirational “First Day Hike” on New Year’s Day. Georgia’s State Park and Historic Site rangers are offering more than 70 guided adventures where participants can connect with friends, family and the great outdoors. Visitors can choose from a variety of distances and difficulties, from kid-friendly strolls to heart-pumping treks and wheelchair accessible trails. Participants will go home with a First Day Hikes sticker to commemorate their accomplishment as part of this nationwide movement.

First Day Hikes is a national initiative from America’s State Parks that encourages people to get outside and explore nature. It began more than three decades ago, and all 50 states have participated. A few unique First Day Hikes in Georgia include watching sunrise over the Okefenokee Swamp at Stephen C. Foster State Park, exploring a pitcher plant bog at Jack Hill State Park, a musket firing at Fort Morris Historic Site, and birding at Crooked River State Park. Dozens of additional hikes are listed on GaStateParks.org.

This year, Georgia State Parks will host two accessible hikes where mobility-impaired visitors can borrow all-terrain wheelchairs free of charge. Advanced reservations are required by December 27 for these two programs. The first is at Sweetwater Creek State Park west of Atlanta and the second is at Tallulah Gorge State Park in northeast Georgia. Participants may also bring their own all-terrain wheelchairs. A few more state parks have also planned First Day Hikes on easy, accessible trails, including Panola Mountain, Florence Marina, Seminole and Richard B. Russell.

For park guests who want to celebrate a quiet New Year’s Eve surrounded by fresh air, Georgia’s State Parks offer cozy cabins, heated yurts and modern campsites. Fireworks and sparklers are not allowed in state parks, making them a peaceful choice for the holiday – especially those with dogs. For reservations, call 1-800-864-7275 or visit GaStateParks.org.

Video Details