| On Thursday, May 14th, Ridge VFD and the Ridge VFD Auxiliary welcomed Ridge VRS and members’ families for a joint Special Topics Drill Night. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the group chose to “Taco” about mental health challenges facing first responders, with a fun taco theme and taco bar provided by the Auxiliary before the presentation. Captain Scot Best led an informative discussion on how the emotional impact of emergency response can affect both responders and their loved ones. Attendees learned about common responder and interpersonal traumas and stressors, ways to stay grounded in high-stress situations, peer support strategies, and communication tools for navigating challenges "on the job" and at home. The session also highlighted the Ridge VFD Peer Support Team and encouraged everyone to reach out to loved ones, professionals, or trained peer support personnel when needed. The presentation was well received, and several attendees shared that it helped deepen their understanding of trauma-related illnesses. Everyone left with an Emotional Support Taco, courtesy of the Auxiliary. |
