Pasadena Firefighter Fights to Support Mental Health of Colleagues

When he’s not rushing to fires or other emergencies to help others, Pasadena Fire Department Firefighter Scott Henderson dedicates his time to another passion: Supporting fellow first responders and their families as they struggle with the mental health challenges that can arise from the profession.

Henderson founded the nonprofit organization 809 Fight for Awareness in 2019 with the goal of supporting services and organizations dedicated to mental health issues of first responders, such as the Georgia-based organization, Next Rung, he explained.

Firefighters, police and other first responders regularly see situations and tragedies members of the public are generally not exposed to, resulting in significant mental stress, Henderson said. But for too long, many have found themselves without anywhere to turn to for support.

“These folks are going through so many problems and they don’t have anyone to talk to,” he said. “It’s a huge deal.”

Henderson recently began serving as a peer support counselor with Next Rung, speaking with other firefighters across the nation who reach out through the organization.

First responders often find it easier to discuss challenges with others in the profession who have a firsthand understanding of the stresses the jobs can entail, such as those prompted by being unable to save a patient, he said.

“We hear the screams. We smell the smells. We know what’s going on,” Henderson said. “It’s OK to talk.”

809 Fight for Awareness hosted its inaugural event, a charity boxing match pitting first responders against one another in the ring, in front of Pasadena City Hall in 2019, raising more than $30,000 to support Next Rung, organizers said.

Unable to host in-person events since then due to the pandemic, 809 Fight for Awareness has teamed with Next Rung and countless donors to create an online raffle to raise funds for first-responder mental health support.

The raffle, which began Monday and continues through Feb. 28, had already resulted in more than $40,000 in donations as of Tuesday, Henderson said.

Henderson’s wife, Jennifer Henderson, has taken on the role of event coordinator for both 809 Fight for Awareness and Next Rung and was instrumental in organizing the raffle, he said.

In addition to a host of businesses owned by first responders, the Pasadena Firefighters Local 809 and the Pasadena Relief Fund have been strong supporters of 809 Fight for Awareness mission, Henderson added.

Across the nation, firefighter deaths from suicide exceeded line-of-duty deaths for the first time in 2017, according to a statement from 809 Fight for Awareness.

“For firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics, and other first responders – as well as their families – the stigma surrounding mental health issues can be a barrier to getting treatment,” the statement continued. “Not wanting to call attention to their struggle, they may adopt a tough exterior, preferring instead to focus on the job, and denying that they might be in need of treatment or that their symptoms may be complicating their ability to function physically and/or mentally.”

The pandemic has only exacerbated the issue, prompting concerns from first responders over becoming infected with COVID-19 during the course of their duties, as well as potentially transmitted to loved ones, Henderson said.

To combat the problem, the efforts of Next Rung in 2020 resulted in 253 first responders helped through peer support, 18 provided with professional counseling, three first responders and their spouses provided with marital counseling, and six have been placed in professional treatment centers, according to the organization.

Those interested in taking part in the raffle were invited to purchase tickets online for $10 each for a chance to win one of a series of prize packages donated by business, according to Next Rung.

Prize packages, as well as instructions to buy raffle tickets, are posted on Next Rung’s Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/next_rung..

More information about 809 Fight for Awareness can be found online at 809fight4awareness.com, and information on Next Rung is available at nextrung.org.

First responders wishing to contact one of Next Rung’s peer support counselors were urged to contact Next Rung’s peer support hotline by texting “SUPPORT” to (833) 698-7864.