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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – May is Mental Health Awareness Month and for many first responders, it can be difficult to come forward.
The Columbus Division of Police is working to address this.
Columbus Police Officer Don Paden has been in law enforcement for three decades. He says while they’ve come a long way when it comes to treating the mental health of first responders, the work isn’t done yet.
“I started in 1990,” he said. “Back then, we didn’t talk, we didn’t talk about our feelings. You know, you would just swallow those feelings and not allow yourself to be emotional.”
Paden said that at the time, police did not go to counseling, thinking it was a sign of weakness. He hopes it won’t be the same for the next generation of first responders.
“I don’t want them to end up like us,” Paden said. “I’ve had a lot of friends who have killed themselves because of this job, a lot of friends who have become alcoholics, drug addicts, because of this job, and I want to be able to help them not have the hurt that I did. have passed.”
Paden said the opening of the Wellness Center has been a big step in the right direction. It’s a place where officers can go and talk about their feelings and it’s completely confidential.
“I’d like to see officers get to the point where they talk as freely about going to the wellness center to get mental health help as I do about saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to the gym,'” Paden said.
He said being an officer can be the best and worst job at the same time, adding that you can’t do this job and not expect to have mental and emotional problems.
“We’re human too,” Paden said. “We need to have a place where we can go, be able to learn about those feelings, express them, manage them and so that we can grow from what we’ve seen in a healthy way .”
A video about the wellness center features Dave Gerold with the Columbus Fire Department. The center is also open to them. In the video, Gerold said first responders will find three things when they go there: confidentiality, community and connection.
“We want to meet members where they are and get to know them a little bit better and really dig into what’s not working for them and connect them with a resource that can help them in whatever situation it is, he said.
Paden said he hopes first responders can get to a place where they are open to seeking counseling. But, for now, he’ll continue to advocate for them and make sure they know they’re not alone.
If you or someone you know needs help, resources are available for you.
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