Friends, how are you? We know that many of you are struggling with family problems, illness, alcohol abuse, problems at work, not sleeping, reliving bad calls that bring anxiety and depression, all amid the craziness of last year with the New Year not settling yet. It’s enough to keep us all in a bad place.But, understand that there is hope, hope that we can take care of you and your family. Never before, has the emergency services world been better prepared to take care of each other. Here in South Carolina, we are absolutely blessed to have organizations that have prepared and put themselves out there for you. But, many of you out there have also been a part of it. Trusting us to provide the support for you, reaching out to ask for and receive help, and making sure you spread the word to others.
South Carolina is a leader in emergency services behavioral health care in this country. Many people have worked hard to see that it happens. Support One in Aiken, the First Responder Assistance and Support Team (F.A.S.T.), the Lowcountry Firefighter, EMS, and 911 Support Teams, the South Carolina Public Safety Chaplains Association, the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Assistance Program (L.E.A.P.), the South Carolina Department of Mental Health’s First Responder Assistance Team offices and Mobile Crisis Units, the many individual departmental peer teams and the amazing behavioral health clinicians, both private and in the statewide DMH program who all come together to make this work.
But, you know what, one of our goals is to get to the end of each day simply being a part of making your life better. “No smoke, no mirrors, and no bag of tricks”. You and your family are our priority. Pray of us, support us, and encourage others to take advantage of what has been created. Just a photo that says it all. “Taking care of ourselves, taking care of each other.”