Not feeling yourself? Most seasoned first responders don’t.

There’s good reason why. Ready to try something different?

The physical and mental demands of first responders are overwhelming. Seasoned first responders often battle cumulative symptoms of secondary trauma, anxiety, and depression. This program aims to reduce these symptoms through tools to increase situational awareness and tactical mobility, which can boost mental, emotional, and physical health.

Designed for the unique demands of emergency service work, this evidence-based program offers practical tools to reduce chronic stress, sharpen focus, and support both well-being and performance. Whether you're responding to a crisis or decompressing at home, these techniques are designed to be accessible, effective, and easy to integrate into operational environments and daily life.

About the Science

If you feel the effects of cumulative chronic stress at work, this may be for you...

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Mindful first responders

Empowering First Responders in Oklahoma with Tools to Build Adaptability and Situational Awareness When Answering the Call

How It Works

The program combines stress-relief exercises, guided group discussions, and stretching/movement to support physical and emotional regulation. Over the course of six weeks, participants build skills to manage stress and develop sustainable self-care routines that enhance both on-duty performance and off-duty recovery.

To track outcomes, participants complete pre- and post-assessments, and will also use a WHOOP bracelet to monitor biometric data such as sleep quality, recovery, and stress levels throughout the program.

This program is designed to deliver meaningful, lasting impact. By the end of the 6-week experience, participants will:

Learn practical stress-relief and stretching/movement exercises that build mental grit and improve emotional regulation

Build confidence and readiness to manage critical incidents with greater focus, clarity, and emotional control

Strengthen your ability to apply trauma-informed care in challenging situations, including cases involving overdose and substance use

Develop a personalized and sustainable daily routine to train your brain for endurance

Participants who complete the full 6-week Mindful First Responders program will receive 12 CLEET hours or 4 EMT CEU certified hours.

Additionally, a qualitative analysis of past participants revealed powerful personal and professional outcomes. After completing the 6-week program, participants reported:

Lower blood pressure
Reduced muscle tension
Improved sleep quality
Easier, deeper breathing
Less daily stress
Greater ability to stay present
Improved coping skills
Increased focus and clarity
Better emotional regulation

This program aims to reduce mental health stigma and teach your team proven strategies to reduce chronic stress, sharpen focus, and support both well-being and performance.

Read more about demographic mental health statistics below.

The rate of post-traumatic stress among firefighters and other rescue personnel is comparable to rates in veterans returning from combat²⁵.
- 20% of firefighters meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress, compared to a 6.8% lifetime risk for the general population¹⁰

Nearly 50% of career firefighters may be at high risk for compassion fatigue¹⁸.

A 2025 study⁹ revealed that 40% of firefighters face clinically substantial levels of anxiety and depression. Within this study, most firefighters who reported mental health struggles related to their work chose not to seek professional support, likely influenced by cultural norms within the profession and stigma surrounding mental health.

Around 25% of firefighters are estimated to engage in excessive alcohol use¹⁷.

Police officers are more likely to have high rates of adverse childhood experiences, and are 2-4x times more likely to suffer with PTSD compared to the rest of the US general population¹⁴.
- Research has demonstrated that law enforcement officers experiencing PTSD symptoms commit more repetition errors on verbal learning tasks, and as symptoms get more severe, their immediate recall of verbal material also declines¹².

Nearly 19% of law enforcement are experiencing severe emotional exhaustion or extreme depersonalization¹³.

In a 2016 study¹⁵, about 75% of surveyed officers reported having experienced a traumatic event while on the job, but less than half told their agency about it. The same study also found that over half of officers believed that they would face discrimination in the workplace by reporting mental illness.

Due to the fast-paced tempo of the job, 69% of emergency personnel don't have enough time to recover between traumatic work events. Without the necessary recovery time to integrate these experiences, many report experiencing depression, stress, post traumatic stress symptoms, suicidal ideation, and other conditions²¹.

Nearly 20% of paramedics experience work-related PTSD²³.

Burnout rates are as high as 56% among EMS workers²⁴.
- This condition not only creates a greater risk of EMS workers harming patients and other crew through injury, error, and unsafe behavior, but also exacerbates mental health struggles in an already struggling population. EMS workers have a suicide rate 1.4x higher than the general population²⁶.

69% of paramedics report low organizational support and high stigma around mental illness²².

Studies have shown that low compassion fatigue impacts quality of care, as well as patient satisfaction, due to burnout and decreased empathy. 75% of emergency medical services personnel experience compassion fatigue during their career¹⁹.

Whether you're looking to build mental toughness, enhance job performance, or take better care of yourself and your team, the Mindful First Responders program offers the tools and support to help you get there.

About the Science