Your Life Matters

Resources for first responders and their families seeking information to help navigate mental health challenges

A First Responder's Life Cannot Be Compromised.

Each and every day, countless first responders answer the call for help, oftentimes enduring wounds that time cannot seem to heal.  Throughout one's career as a first responder, repeated exposure to trauma is likely.  Left unchecked, the results can be damaging, and even deadly.  Year after year, more first responders die by their own hand than in the line of duty.  Survive First is determined to change that statistic.

#livehappy

Mission

Survive First is a 501(c)3 whose mission is to reduce first responder suicide through quality education, peer support, and mental health and wellness resources, while fostering a greater sense of community and awareness amongst first responders and their supporters. Survive First will strive to eliminate the stigma often associated with seeking mental health treatment.

We are a resource for first responders and their families seeking information to help navigate the mental health challenges a career in public safety and health fields often bring.

All communications are confidential. No first responder is alone. There is help. We are here.

We Care From Experience

Survive First was founded by Doug and Karen Monda, with a passionate and dedicated Board of Directors, to help first responders and their families navigate the mental health challenges that can occur with a career as a first responder.

We provide:

  • Educational opportunities for first responders and their families.
  • Resources for treatment planning for active and retired first responders.
  • Financial assistance for treatment through our Treatment Assistance Fund.
  • Opportunities for first responders and their family members to become actively engaged in their overall health and wellness through wellness support groups.

Symptoms of PTSD


Know the symptoms to help those around you #livehappy

Cognition & Mood Changes

  • Inability to recall key features of event
  • Negative beliefs about self or world
  • Distorted blame
  • Persistent fear, horror, anger, guilt, shame
  • Diminished interest in activities
  • Feeling alienated
  • Inability to feel positive emotions

Intrusion

  • Involuntary or Recurrent memories
  • Traumatic Nightmares or Night Terrors
  • Flashbacks
  • Intense or Prolonged Distress After Exposure to Reminders

Avoidance

  • Thoughts / Feelings
  • People/Conversations / Situations
  • Objects / Places
  • Social / Physical Activities

Arousal & Reactivity

  • Involuntary or Recurrent memories
  • Traumatic Nightmares or Night Terrors
  • Flashbacks
  • Intense or Prolonged Distress After Exposure to Reminders

Testimonials

News

Survive First Heads to Kansas City, MO for the FBI National Academy Associates 60th Annual Training Conference

Survive First was honored to attend the FBI National Academy Associates 60th National Training Conference ...

Doug and Karen Monda Honored With the Florida Police Chiefs Association’s President’s Award

In a heartwarming moment that highlighted the importance of mental health advocacy within law enforcement, ...

Survive First Participates in Florida’s PCIS

We are excited to announce that Survive First has joined forces with the Florida Department ...

Our Partners

Who make our services possible

Confidentiality of Communications and Records

RCW 43.101.425

Maintaining your Privacy

All communications to crisis referral services by employees and volunteers of law enforcement, correctional, firefighting, and emergency services agencies, and all records related to the communications, shall be confidential.  Crisis referral services include all public or private organizations that advise employees and volunteers of such agencies about sources of consultation and treatment for personal problems including mental health issues, chemical dependency, domestic violence, gambling financial problems, and other personal crises.

A crisis referral service may reveal information related to crisis referral services to prevent reasonably certain death, substantial bodily harm, or commission of a crime.

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