First Responders can be reluctant to seek help due to stigma and 7 in 10 say that mental health services are seldom or never used. First Responders are 5 times more likely to experience depression and PTSD.

So why, as a society, are we expecting First Responders to raise their hand and say they have a problem? What if the worst of the judgment and stigma was coming from the very department that is supposed to have your back? Kristi Tausinga gives us a front-row seat to the challenges that come with being a First Responder, how the culture promotes a "don't show your weakness" mentality, and how her desperation eventually ended in her contemplating suicide. Thankfully, Kristi met our partners at Responder Health and over time is healing and sharing her story to give hope to other First Responders. We know that she will inspire others to seek help. This is another reminder that waiting for someone to raise their hand is a failed model. Youturn Health and Responder Health are reaching out and engaging with education and peer support- a winning combination with no rock bottom needed!

Kristi was a first responder for 25 years, working in EMS, fire, and law enforcement. She worked in Law Enforcement for 21 and Fire/EMS for 4. Those years were divided up between The City of Winslow, AZ, and the state of Arizona. During that time, she was in Patrol, a sergeant, in administration, a school resource officer, and worked with the Department of Suicide and Domestic Violence (DV) as a liaison. Kristi was also on the Board of Directors for Alice's Place, which created a women's DV shelter. She also taught High School Criminal Justice classes and is a Federally certified Commercial Vehicle Inspector, AZPOST Genera Instructor, High-Risk Stop Instructor, Addiction Recovery Coach, and recovering addict. Kristi is currently retired from law enforcement and working as a substitute teacher at a local High School. Kristi has four kids (a grandbaby on the way) and a husband of 18 years, living in Nevada. She teaches private softball pitching lessons and umpires little league, when not following her teenager around to her games.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-tausinga-7a75801a3/

https://responderhealth.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-riley-0604a824/