By Ande Richards | For Mosaic
nj.com
NEWARK, N.J. — Ron Glover was a Newark police officer for 26 years and says not knowing what each day would bring was stressful.
“Each day brought something completely different,” said the retired lieutenant, 60. “One day, you could be on a high chasing criminals, and the next, you might be trying to save a baby’s life or delivering a child. When I was off, I drank because of the stress from the job — but I stopped 10 years ago. Smoking cigars and drinking… that was a recipe for disaster.”
Glover’s experience is not uncommon among first responders. However, data suggests that Black first responders may face additional challenges, including systemic racism within their communities and workplaces.
“Paramedics, firefighters, EMS personnel, and police officers are at heightened risk for depression, PTSD, anxiety, burnout, and substance use, largely due to the intense stress and repeated trauma they face on the job,” said Dr. Brendan Guarino, a therapist who specializes in treating first responders.
Through his Guardians for Guardians program at Baker Street Behavioral Health, Guarino treats first responders and their families in its North Jersey location and at six other sites across the state.
He says that helping first responders recognize the loss of identity they often experience outside their roles, providing tools for well-being and reframing mental health progress can significantly improve how they manage these challenges.
Guarino’s father, uncle, and cousin were all firefighters, which gave him valuable insight into the pressures, trauma, and identity struggles those in service-oriented professions face.
Still, he’s optimistic, noting a growing trend toward destigmatizing mental health support in these communities.
“One of the biggest shifts is that younger generations in law enforcement, the fire department, and dispatchers are allowing themselves to advocate more for increased mental health initiatives,” he said. “And social media plays a major part in normalizing and reducing bias and help-seeking behaviors.”
According to ScienceDirect, approximately 31% of first responders experience depression. Among them, 67% report mild symptoms, 24% report moderate depression, and 16% experience severe episodes. When broken down by role, 37% of paramedics report symptoms of depression, followed by 28% of EMS personnel and 22% of police officers.
The actual numbers may be even higher, Guarino said, since many individuals either don’t recognize they have a problem or aren’t willing to disclose struggles with addiction or depression.
In his work with first responders, he uses a range of tools to treat depression and other mental health challenges.
Guarino outlined a three-part approach to supporting first responders: reclaiming identity beyond the badge; building resilience through daily mental health practices; and redefining progress in treatment.
He encourages cultivating a sense of self outside the uniform, using tools like visualization, journaling, and peer check-ins to strengthen well-being, and recognizing that setbacks are part of the journey — with small wins counting just as much as major breakthroughs.
As a complement to therapy, Baker Street incorporates peer specialists who collaborate closely with therapists and social workers.
Thomas Nunn, 48, began his first responder journey as a volunteer firefighter at 18 and used alcohol for 20 years to cope with job-related stress. He later recognized that underlying mental health issues were also at play.
“A lot of times, there’s no downtime,” says Nunn, describing what shifts can be like. “And when you hear those emergencies, the shooting or the 911 or the CPR in progress, you’re sitting there in a position where you can do no more than listen to what‘s going on out there. It does have an impact on you.”
After retiring last year, Nunn became a peer recovery specialist to support fellow first responders and veterans.
Nunn says he is a bridge between the therapists and the clients and uses his personal experiences to open the door for communication and getting to the heart of the individual’s issues.
“When someone comes in, my job is to help them think, ‘Okay, I can trust this person,’” Nunn said. “I tell them, ‘I’ve been there — I was a fireman, an EMT, a dispatcher.’ Then I share my story. If they’re struggling with alcohol, I focus on my own experience with it.
“Often, they open up to me more than they would to others. Then, I can relay that information to the team — therapists, doctors, and social workers. Because I work in a clinical setting, I’m able to give them insight they might not otherwise receive.”
Nunn said support helped him through his struggles.
“I got help — and this is how I did it,” he said. “I let them know that there are resources available. We have outpatient options, psychiatrists, and therapists. It‘s about repeating the message, over and over, so they hear it and really believe it: it‘s okay to not be okay.”
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