There are so many amazing people serving in the organizations in our state that provide behavioral health care for our firefighters and other first responders. They give unselfishly of their time and talent to simply make the lives of our emergency services personnel better and they do it with little thanks and/or accolades.
I came across this photo tonight and it moved me to record my thoughts in this writing. Pictured here are Lee Hopkins, the Pee Dee Coordinator for the Lowcountry Firefighter Support Team, Andy Hogg, the Midlands Coordinator for the S.C. F.A.S.T. Team, and John David Reindollar, the Team Leader of the Lowcountry Firefighter Support Team, as they work together on a response to assist firefighters in need. This is the type of cooperation we should all be seeking, working together regardless of organization, to provide support for those in need.
We are fortunate to have many organizations providing those services. Support One in Aiken County, S.C. F.A.S.T. all over our state, the Lowcountry Firefighter Support Team, the Lowcountry EMS Support Team, the S.C. Law Enforcement Assistance Program (L.E.A.P.), the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy in the Lower State, the S.C. Public Safety Chaplains Association and the many internal agency peer teams such as Charleston County EMS, Florence County EMS, Horry County Fire Rescue, and Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue are just a few examples of those that join many others to compose a formidable program to improve the lives of our emergency services personnel. Those of us on those teams are also joined by scores of wonderful clinicians who provide that higher level of care when needed.
Many may not know this but eleven years ago there was very little in the way of behavioral health teams or programs in our state to provide care for our first responders. We are now far ahead of the curve in South Carolina and we are thankful for all that make that possible. There is, and always will be, much work to be done. Come join us, there are many organizations that will welcome you, including ours.