Warren County Fiscal Court approves program providing mental health help to county firefighters

WARREN COUNTY, Ky. – This week, Warren County Fiscal Court approved a new program providing Warren County firefighters with mental health help if they feel they need it.

The “Help the Helpers” program will be offered to Warren County firefighters if they feel they need it. Warren County Judge Executive Doug Gorman commented during the fiscal court meeting, saying the ‘toughen up’ approach to mental health cannot be the standard for first responders who see tragedy on a daily basis.

Warren County Fire Coordinator Bill Rector affirms those comments, saying it is important to keep their firefighter both physically and mentally fit for the job.

“Ten, 15, 20 years ago, this would have never been a conversation. And now it’s at the forefront. We want our responders to be the most physically capable, best equipped and mentally capable to respond because we don’t know what’s going to happen next,” Rector said.

Rector himself has seen the tragic results of ignoring mental health and has made it a mission to make sure all of the counties’ firefighters have the opportunity, if need be, to talk to someone for help.

“You know, it can make a big deal. I lost one of my best friends to suicide. He was a D.C. firefighter with me. We were roommates for quite some time and we did not recognize any symptoms. So I have a personally vested interest, along with Deputy Chief Buchanan, to making sure that we do everything within our power and authority to support everyone out there,” Rector said.

Rector says that if a county firefighter needs help, they can reach out to an anonymous source who will them help connect them with the mental health professionals available.