Fit To Fight Fire: Lead Yourself

Episode 028 - May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and we talk with Rhonda Kelly. Rhonda spent 17 years with East Metro (CO) Fire Rescue and found a greater calling when she left the fire service to join the National Behavioral Health Innovation Center at the University of Colorado.  She is currently the program manager of ResponderStrong, an organization responsible for creating an accessible network of mental health resources for first responders. We discuss how resiliency is vital for the well-being of a firefighter, the importance of healthy and positive coping strategies, and how culture affects overall awareness of  PTSD and mental health issues in the first responder community. *If you or someone you know needs someone to talk to regarding mental health, text "Badge" to 741741 to speak to a professional crisis counselor, 24/7/365.