On Thursday, bipartisan legislation sponsored by U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to help police, fire, emergency medical and 911 personnel cope with the stresses of responding to crisis situations passed the Senate unanimously.
The Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Act of 2023 is bipartisan legislation that would establish mental health programs for America’s first responders who often face long-term effects from providing life-saving services in moments of crisis.
Young
“Our first responders put their lives on the line every day to ensure the safety and security of Hoosier families. The Fighting PTSD Act would increase the resources available to public safety officers dealing with job-related post-traumatic stress disorder,” Sen. Young said. “Increasing this support to our public safety officer community will lead to healthier and stronger communities across Indiana and our country. I’m glad the entire Senate unanimously agreed to advance this critical legislation and I call on the House to pass it quickly.”
Police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and 911 dispatchers routinely encounter high-stress situations, putting them at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which increases the risk of suicide. The Fighting PTSD Act would require the Justice Department to establish evidence-based treatment programs for first responders across the country, similar to services available to military personnel who develop PTSD or acute stress disorders.
The bill also requires the Justice Department to consult with stakeholders, including public safety officer organizations, in developing the program, which would be available to serve first responders in communities of all sizes across the country.
In addition to Senators Young and Grassley, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).