2nd Alarm Project Changes Culture of First Responder Mental Wellness

The 2nd Alarm Project was founded in 2019 at Florida A&M University in response to Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm that devastated the Florida Panhandle.

“The storm not only left widespread physical destruction but also created unprecedented mental health concerns for first responders,” said Kellie O’Dare Wilson, 2nd Alarm Project founder and executive director.

Recognizing the lack of coordinated mental health resources for first responders, the 2nd Alarm Project was created to provide sustainable, evidence-based mental wellness services tailored to their needs.

“Many emergency personnel worked for weeks without relief, responding to catastrophic damage while simultaneously experiencing personal losses—damaged homes, displaced families, and a complete disruption of daily life,” she said.

Despite their resilience, there were no coordinated mental health resources specifically tailored for first responders. “The immense strain on their well-being made it clear that a sustainable, long-term solution was needed to support their mental health,” O’Dare Wilson said.

O’Dare Wilson has a Ph.D. in social work and expertise in first responder health and wellness, health policy, and organizational resilience. She is an assistant professor of health policy and management with the Institute of Public Health at Florida A&M University. She also is an associate professor, and deputy executive director for UCF RESTORES at the University of Central Florida.

“This work is also deeply personal to me,” O’Dare Wilson said. “Supporting first responders and their families is not just my professional mission—it is part of my lived experience. I am the spouse of a career firefighter-paramedic and a line-of-duty death family member, so I have seen firsthand the unique challenges, sacrifices, and struggles that come with this profession.

“I recognize how important it is for first responders and their families to have access to trusted, proficient mental health support, and that is why I am so passionate about ensuring these services are available, accessible, and sustained for the long term.”

The organization serves fire service, law enforcement, corrections, emergency medical services, 9-1-1 telecommunicators, fire arson investigators, forensics, flight medics/crews, family members, retirees, recruits/cadets, and lifeguards. First responders primarily seek peer support for stress, critical incidents, PTSD, family concerns, substance use, and workplace issues.

Leveraging Research

Initially funded by a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) federal grant, the project reaches first responders in 57 of Florida’s 67 counties, 10 other states, and Canada, with additional funding derived from other sources.

The project leverages cutting-edge research, advanced clinical care, technical innovation, and community partnerships to offer first responders and their families behavioral health services, peer support capacity building and clinical oversight, mental health education and training, and guidance for agencies in developing the Behavioral Health Access Programs (BHAP) toolkit. BHAP, recognized as a best practice by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, is becoming a world standard of care for first responders based on its evidence-based strategies. Additional programs focus on K9 crisis response and post traumatic growth.

The 2nd Alarm Project also offers resiliency, leadership, and peer support training in partnership with the International Association of Fire Fighters, and UCF RESTORES. The mobile app, with more than 8,000 downloads, connects first responders to peer supporters, clinicians, and wellness resources.

The Suicide Prevention Lifeline (9-8-8) serves as a key resource for the 2nd Alarm Project. “While it is not directly affiliated with our organization, we recognize its critical role in providing immediate, 24/7 support to individuals in crisis and consistently promote it as part of an approach to suicide prevention,” O’Dare Wilson said.

Project Growth

The 2nd Alarm Project began as a small grassroots initiative, primarily focused on providing mental health education, peer support, and direct crisis intervention.

“We started with just a few partnerships and a handful of team members, but the overwhelming need quickly became apparent—first responders and their families required specialized, confidential, and comprehensive mental health support beyond what was traditionally available,” O’Dare Wilson said.

“To meet this need, we expanded our efforts by helping public safety organizations build and sustain internal mental wellness programs. We work closely with fire departments, law enforcement agencies, EMS providers, dispatch organizations, and other first responder agencies teams to assess their unique needs and develop tailored mental wellness strategies.”

Those efforts have enabled 2nd Alarm Project to scale its impact beyond individual counseling and direct services. “We are actively helping public safety organizations build sustainable mental wellness programs that ensure first responders have ongoing, institutionalized support throughout their careers,” O’Dare Wilson said. “By equipping agencies to take ownership of mental wellness within their organizations, we are creating lasting, systemic change.”

From 2020-2023, the 2nd Alarm Project trained 449 new peer supporters and facilitated 6,296 peer support encounters. It conducted critical incident responses and disaster deployments, including the Naval Air Station Pensacola mass shooting, Surfside building collapse, and Hurricanes Ian and Idalia.

Changing the Culture of Mental Wellness

O’Dare Wilson noted while many first responder agencies offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) or other similar types of services, there are significant gaps in mental health providers trained in first responder culture and who practice cutting edge evidence-based interventions.

“Many first responders do not trust traditional mental health systems, often fearing career repercussions or a lack of understanding from clinicians unfamiliar with emergency service culture,” she said. “The 2nd Alarm Project bridges that gap by providing clinicians trained specifically in first responder mental health, offering confidential, no-cost services, and developing peer support networks within departments. Additionally, we focus on proactive mental wellness—not just crisis response—helping first responders build resiliency before they reach a breaking point.”

The 2nd Alarm Project exists not only to provide services but also works to change the culture of mental wellness in public safety, ensuring that seeking support is normalized, encouraged, and embedded into the fabric of first responder communities.

Program components include:

• Behavioral health services: Provided by experts using evidence-based approaches to treating first responders’ concerns, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance use concerns. The services are free of charge for Florida first responders and their family members and are not affiliated with any EAP or commercial insurance carrier.
• Peer support training: Critical incident response and continuing education.
• Education and training: Approved mental health awareness courses. Its three-hour mental health awareness class for the fire service is approved for CEUs through FCDICE/FL State Fire College. Its partnership with Boulder Crest Foundation provides Struggle Well Trainings, promoting post-traumatic growth.
• Technical assistance: Helping agencies develop mental wellness programs.

When appropriate, 2nd Alarm Project offers direct outpatient counseling services with telehealth and in-person options.

Impact

“Over the past five years, we have seen increased awareness, reduced stigma, and improved access to care for thousands of first responders,” O’Dare Wilson said. “Many participants have shared that this was the first time they felt truly understood and supported in seeking mental health care.”

A few success stories:

• A first responder with severe PTSD, depression, and suicidal ideation saw symptoms disappear after cognitive processing therapy.
• A post-Baker Act patient struggling with alcohol abuse and suicidal thoughts achieved sobriety and career success after treatment.
• A responder involved in an active shooter event overcame suicidal ideation and became an advocate for mental wellness.

“The success stories—from individuals seeking help for the first time to entire departments transforming their approach to mental health—are a testament to the necessity of this work,” O’Dare Wilson said. “Through the 2nd Alarm Project, we are not just providing services—we are working to change the culture of mental wellness in public safety, ensuring that seeking support and developing resiliency are normalized, encouraged, and embedded into the fabric of first responder communities.”

To the Future

“Our goal is to ensure that first responders, regardless of their location, have access to high-quality, proficient, and sustainable mental health resources,” O’Dare Wilson said. “For individual first responders seeking direct mental health services, our ability to provide care outside northwest Florida depends on funding and provider availability. However, we regularly consult and collaborate with agencies statewide to develop their own wellness programs and provide guidance on best practices.”

Expansion to additional Florida counties is a possibility, but scaling a program such as 2nd Alarm Project requires long-term funding and strategic partnerships, O’Dare Wilson said.

“In the meantime, we are committed to supporting first responder mental health initiatives nationwide by sharing our model, offering training, and assisting agencies in adapting best practices for their own regions,” she said. “For those in other states looking to start similar programs, we encourage collaborating with local universities, securing grant funding, and ensuring mental health providers are trained in first responder culture. Sustainable, peer-driven programs, combined with strong agency leadership support, are the key to success in any region.”

The 2nd Alarm Project seeks to continue to grow through new partnerships, expanded training programs, and research-backed interventions. “Our goal is to strengthen and refine our services while expanding access to more first responders across Florida and beyond. Long-term sustainability and funding remain a priority, as we work to ensure these vital services remain accessible for years to come,” O’Dare Wilson said.

“One of the most significant steps toward this future is our recent merger with UCF RESTORES, a nationally recognized leader in clinical treatment and research. This partnership allows us to expand our reach, enhance our evidence-based treatment programs, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of our services.”

O’Dare Wilson said through the merger, the 2nd Alarm Project is positioned to scale its impact, enhance service delivery, and develop new, cutting-edge approaches to first responder mental health. “Our shared vision is to create a national model for sustainable, proficient mental wellness support in emergency services,” she said.

“The 2nd Alarm Project exists because first responders and their families deserve the same care and support they provide to their communities daily. The work is far from over, but we are committed to overcoming challenges and ensuring first responders never feel alone in their struggles.”