#SameHere Service
Building Stronger Foundations for Recovery
Empowering Those Who Serve
#SameHere Service Programs for First Responders, Active & Retired Military address the complex challenges in changing stigma and the willingness to seek help in these unique communities. Our programs address the culture changes needed, and speak to everyone involved in these communities from PPO’s/Probationary Fire Fighters/Privates on up through the Chiefs/Commissioners/Generals, through a variety strategies. As our Founder’s diagnosis was PTSD, the topic of traumas born from lived experiences, is a topic he and The Alliance are particularly committed to. A number of our Alliance Members and advocates have a proven track-record working closely with First Responders and the Military in areas all over the world, and we look forward to the possibility of working with your group – ranging anywhere from a single Fire House, to an entire Police Department.
Be a Part of the Change
#SameHere Foundational Roadmap
From world-class athletes to leading researchers, our alliance members share their stories as proof that mental health impacts everyone, no matter their accolades or status.
Lay the Culture Foundation
Establish Common Language
Understand the Science
Identify Potential Obstacles
Learn The STARR Excercises
Personal Stories, Real Impact
Kickstarting Mental Health Change
Our #SameHere Service Programs begin with a Culture-Changing Launch Rally, delivered in either smaller, more intimate sessions or with your entire group at once. These rallies are led by a member(s) of The Global Mental Health Alliance, who introduces the concept of the #SameHere “5 in 5” reality when it comes to mental health – that everyone is affected, and this issue is not solely about genetic predisposition. From our experience, specific language is crucial when engaging with the First Responder and Military communities. Our Alliance members, many of whom come from professional sports, use these rallies to share their personal life challenges and mental health struggles, explaining that everyone faces obstacles, which are unavoidable and part of the human experience.
Understanding Stress, Trauma, and Coping
Real-Life Experiences in Mental Health
“These members’ stories resonate because they are shared from individuals you “never would have thought” would have been effected, and similar to members in your communities, came about from traumatic lived experiences (either that they personally were a part of, or that they watched in others they were connected with). The Launch Rally also includes creative examples (graphics and animations) explaining the science behind how stress and trauma affect our minds and bodies, positive coping strategies, and an interactive Q & A session. We use many examples to compare mental health to physical health, and speak in terms of the comparisons of “injuries” to both, so that the topic better resonates with these groups that are used to just pushing through pain until the can’t any longer. This up-beat, yet powerful session, ideally runs for two hours, followed by Alliance Members staying after for individual questions with members of your group.”
– Canadian Fire Responders Alliance Members BC & First Responder Groups
Building Healthy Habits and Mindsets
Empowering Coping Strategies with STARR
We teach your members various “STARR” (Stress & Trauma, Active Release & Rewiring) Exercises, providing coping skills and strategies to handle stressful and traumatic events. These exercises can be done during down-time, on the way back from calls or missions, or in a designated room at your offices, quarters, or precincts. Though finding time for these exercises can be challenging, we teach methods to incorporate them into daily routines, improving health and productivity. We avoid using terms or imagery that may carry stigmas and discourage participation. The STARR exercises are grounded in science, helping your members understand how and why each exercise works, similar to what they already know about physical health. Additionally, we offer STARR Exercise Courses for your group leaders, allowing them to learn in a self-paced format from top mind-body experts. You can even access STARR Exercise cards before we begin, and together, we can build “STARR Gym for the Brain” rooms in your workspaces. We also partner with technologies such as anonymous peer-to-peer apps and chat rooms, enabling members to connect more openly, without fear of judgment or repercussions.
Bridging the Mental Health Gap
We also conduct break-out sessions to discuss how First Responders and Military personnel have traditionally been treated by society, often due to misconceptions about the conditions many return home with after service, or acquire after intense calls. These sessions help bridge the communication gap between how society views the mental health of our service members and how similar mental health challenges affect us all, albeit experienced at varying levels due to different traumas and intensities of symptoms. Ultimately, we show how we are all part of one large community facing similar challenges and why it’s crucial not to separate groups based on misunderstood perceptions.