Who We Are

Our organization aims to educate our military and first responders, their family members, their departments/agencies and the general public on:

-What depression and anxiety are, potential causes, and how being military personnel/first responder can bring on or further trigger these conditions.

-Different treatment options, their benefits and side effects, and how to seek treatment.

-The prevalence of depression and anxiety in these jobs,  the seriousness of it, and the stigma around it.

+Law enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty - and they do.

+Deaths by suicide for both these professions are greater than line of duty deaths. The same is heartbreakingly true for our military personnel as well.

+ A USA Today article, in talking a bout the cultural stigma in these jobs, stated, “Expectations of heroism and selflessness also create a culture that discourages showing weakness or admitting to struggles, further fostering hurdles to resources and support for those who need it the most…”

There's an unspoken stigma around mental health in these jobs. Military and First Responders don't speak up because they don't want to be seen as weak, inadequate, or compromised.

The FOP survey in 2018 on the mental and behavioral health of Police Officers showed a heartbreaking 90% of participants believe there is a stigma in law enforcement that creates a barrier to seeking treatment. The largest reasonings for belief of this stigma were:

-They will be seen as weak or unfit for duty

-Co-workers won’t trust their judgment if they ask for help or seek treatment

-They will be putting their job at risk

We need our military and first responders to feel comfortable asking for help and they need to be assured they will not be affected or treated differently because of it. This change only comes with a complete culture shift regarding mental health amongst departments, agencies, and the public.

It’s important for everyone to understand, as a USA Today article stated, “Like many who encounter trauma in their line of work, first responders can struggle with dropping work from their minds when they get home…These characteristics and traits of the role don't go away when they take off the uniform," Bar Nissim said. "Being heroic, being brave, identifying mental health as a sign of weakness, it's something that stays with them even as they take off the uniforms."

While departments and agencies are starting to talk about mental health more and offer counseling resources, it's not enough. We are here to change that.

The same 2018 FOP study stated that 82% of participants were aware their departments offered behavioral health services, but barely 20% had previously utilized the programs. Two thirds believed; 1. there is an inadequate recognition that mental/behavioral health services are important/necessary and 2. there are inadequate services available.

This is unacceptable. Mental health solutions should be at the forefront of every department and agency and just as important as training.

We are here to further the mental health conversation in these jobs, change the narrative, and teach departments and agencies how to really provide their personnel the safe space to discuss their mental health.

Also in the 2018 FOP study, 96% of respondents felt that the public is unaware of the effect that critical stress has on police officers. Over 90% of respondents reported they believed a greater awareness about behavioral health and post-traumatic stress in law enforcement would lead to improved services to address these issues.

The general public is oblivious to what our military and first responders go through. Yes, the public knows their jobs are tough - but the true every day details of the job, how it affects the individual, how it affects the families - the public is vastly unaware. We’re here to make them aware. The more awareness, the more support.

At Officers off Duty, we are dedicated to stepping up our efforts in addressing these issues. We are here to start conversations, but we’re also here to take action. Finances should not stand in the way of bettering your mental health and that's where we come in.

We feel so strongly about the nature and effectiveness of the TMS treatment, our goal is to make it financially obtainable for all military/first responders and their immediate family members.