LibGuides: First Responder Resiliency Project: Home

If you need immediate help:

988 is the national suicide and crisis lifeline. While not first-responder specific, they are one of the biggest mental health hotlines in the country and a founder reported to the Robert Irvine Foundation that many of their volunteers are or have been first-responders.

The previous hotline (1-888-731-FIRE (3473)) is reported by the National Volunteer Fire Council to have been discontinued. Its replacement is only open to members of the NVFC.

Key Resources for Help:

National Volunteer Fire Council
It is important to also realize the impact that fighting fires and responding to emergencies has on the mental wellbeing of emergency personnel. Taking care of your mental health is as important as managing your physical health. The NVFC’s Share the Load™ program provides access to critical resources and information to help first responders and their families manage and overcome personal and work-related problems such as anxiety, depression, burnout, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction among others.
Illinois Fire Fighter Peer Support
Illinois Fire Fighter Peer Support’s (ILFFPS) mission is to recognize that all fire service and emergency medical service members are human beings who will be exposed to, and experience emotions. ILFFPS will provide a safe, non-judgmental and confidential environment where members can engage in a healing conversation with a peer. ILFFPS also seeks to share the concept of peer support and the structure of our program with those that request.
Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance
The mission of Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance is to collaborate, develop and implement behavioral health awareness, prevention, intervention, and post crisis strategies to provide firefighters with an easily accessible and confidential source of information.
RE;ACT 4 Ryan
RE;ACT celebrates the life of Lt. Ryan Elwood, strives to create awareness for the battle he fought, campaigns for much needed counseling to help his fellow Fire Fighters and First Responders who face the same challenges each day and funds training to benefit the profession for which he was so passionate.
#BeThe1To
According to their website, "#BeThe1To is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s message for National Suicide Prevention Month and beyond, spreading the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide." Linked here is a list of organizations across the U.S. and around the world working to change the conversation about suicide prevention.
100 Club of Illinois
The 100 Club of Illinois provides resources, several forms of financial support, access to training, and moral support to both the families of first responders killed in the line of duty and active duty first responders throughout the state of Illinois. All sworn federal, state, county and local first responders stationed in Illinois are included.
Safe Call Now - 1-206-459-3020
Safe Call Now is a CONFIDENTIAL, comprehensive, 24-hour crisis referral service for all public safety employees, all emergency services personnel and their family members nationwide.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States.
Illinois Officer-to-Officer Critical Incident and Peer Support – (1 (866) 535-1078 Press 9
The Critical Incident Support Team (CIST) is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week, They provide confidential peer support and information, as well as personal counseling or social service referrals. Should a major critical incident occur, such as a shooting that involves a police officer, the CIST will respond by notifying the Illinois Network of Critical Incident Stress Management. If requested, CIST will also send a team member to assist the officer, family, and department. If the critical incident involves a line of duty death, the CIST can assist in the preparations of a law enforcement funeral.
Veterans Crisis Line - 988 press 1
The Veterans Crisis Line's new number—988 then Press 1—helps make it easier to remember and share the number to access help in times of need. To reach the Veterans Crisis Line, Veterans need to Press 1 after dialing 988. Veterans and service members who Press 1 are routed to the same trained Veterans Crisis Line responders, 24/7. The Veterans Crisis Line is also available by chat (VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat) and text (838255). The Veterans Crisis Line’s 800 number remains operational for anyone utilizing the 10-digit number option.
International Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA) Yellow Ribbon Instructor materials on Behavioral Wellness
Includes Instructor Syllabus, Outlines, and PowerPoint presentations on behavioral wellness for a recruit level course and for a fire officer level course
FindTreatment.gov
FindTreatment.gov is the confidential and anonymous resource for persons seeking treatment for mental and substance use disorders in the United States and its territories.

IFSI Library Lending Policies

Local Lending (Illinois Residents Only)

The checkout period is 4 weeks.
Extensions are considered individually.
Pick up requested materials at the library circulation desk.
Bring your photo ID to set up a lending account.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

The checkout period is 6 weeks.
IFSI can send materials directly to your local public library through Interlibrary Loan.
You must have a public library card.
It may take up to two weeks for items to arrive.

Search Our Catalog Here

Introduction

This guide was produced by the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) library to bring together mental health resources that are relevant to fire fighters and first responders. On this page, you will find links and information about how to utilize IFSI Library resources as well as general lending polices. The subpages of this guide include information and resources regarding mental health, resiliency, critical incident stress management, and behavioral health.

About the IFSI Library

The Illinois Fire Service Institute Library contains books, codes and standards, DVDs, CDs, periodicals, manuals, e-resources, audiobooks, and other fire emergency resources, totaling over 65,000 items. We serve all first responders in the state of Illinois. Materials can be requested in person, by phone or email, or online through our catalog. You can search our catalog by title, author, keyword, subject, or publisher, and choose the formats you want to see. Enter as few or as many search terms as you would like; the more search terms you use the fewer results you'll get, but the results will be more specific. If you live in Illinois and have a public library card, we can send materials to your public library via interlibrary loan. Anyone is also welcome to visit us in person!