AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted Wednesday to advance a proposal by Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, to increase behavioral health support for Maine's first responders. The vote was unanimous among committee members present.
LD 1742 would ensure Maine's first responders, including firefighters, emergency medical services and public safety telecommunicators, have access to behavioral health care services that will mitigate the impact of traumatic events encountered in the line of duty.
"Our firefighters and first responders are exposed to traumatic events on the job, from routine calls to statewide tragedies like last year's horrific shootings in Lewiston. Understandably, these experiences have a cumulative impact on these brave men and women over time," said Gramlich. "My bill would ensure the needs of our first responders are met, both initially after a traumatic event and in the long-term. We owe this much to the public servants who dedicate their lives to keeping our communities safe and put themselves in harms way every time they go to work."
Gramlich first submitted the bill after hearing from Michael Crouse, past president and current secretary of the Professional Firefighters of Maine, who reached out to her in hopes of working together on legislation to address the lack of behavioral health support for firefighters. The two engaged with stakeholders, including first responders and behavioral health care professionals, to craft the measure that was advanced by lawmakers on Wednesday.
"Firefighters are exposed to traumatic events every day," said Crouse. "Untreated, people living with PTSD are six times more likely to attempt suicide. Rep. Gramlich's legislation would bring stakeholders like the Professional Firefighters of Maine together, along with the Department of Public Safety, to establish a standard of care to provide behavioral health resources to public safety officers when needed in an efficient, effective way. In short, this bill will help to ensure that our first responders get the behavioral health care they need."
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, first responders are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty, and between 17% and 24% of public safety telecommunicators have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
"While the average individual will experience 2-3 traumatic incidents during their lifetimes, law enforcement experiences roughly 170 throughout their careers," said Hannah Longley, LCSW, a senior clinical director at the National Alliance on Mental Illness Maine. "For this reason, first responders are classified as the highest-risk population for suicide death, with higher rates of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and substance use disorders. The Critical Incident Stress Management approach this bill will implement is an international best-practice model for supporting first responders and fostering an environment in which they can seek support from peers who understand the unique challenges they face."
The bill faces additional votes.
Gramlich is a longtime social worker who is currently serving her third term in the Maine House. She is House chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Gramlich], 305-965-2744