Nearly every aspect of your life is affected by your loved one’s challenging career. Although there are many positive benefits to this lifestyle, it can also be very difficult. Long and sometimes unpredictable work hours often mean they miss out on family events, holidays, and sleep. This typically means that spouses deal with many of the day-to-day responsibilities of life and family.
Additionally, you’re aware of the risks your loved one faces every time they put on the uniform, and you worry about their health and safety. You may also notice the impact the job has on your loved one’s mental health and how that has a ripple effect throughout your household.
These burdens can add up and become overwhelming, leaving you wondering how to support your loved one’s mental wellness while also taking care of yourself and keeping your family as happy and healthy as possible. Social support can help you manage the stress and worry, but support can be hard to find if your friends and extended family members don’t understand what you experience as a result of your loved one’s job.
Joining a support network for families of public safety professionals can be a great way to connect with others who also manage the unique challenges of the first responder lifestyle. If one isn’t available in your area, consider the benefits of starting a family support group. Confidentially sharing concerns, humor, frustrations, and support from people who understand can help you cope with challenges. It also provides opportunity to support someone else who is struggling — which is empowering for them and for you.
The resources below offer helpful information you can use to improve the health and well-being of your family. They can also be shared with your fellow first responder families when they need support.
- Hope for Emergency Responders Organization (HERO) offers a warmline, peer support, and other resources for first responders, their families, and their friends.
- Firestrong is a 24/7 firefighter and family crisis and support line.
- International Association of Chiefs of Police offers resources for law enforcement families including resilience strategies for families and children.
- What to Expect: A Guide for Family Members of Volunteer Firefighters is a digital resource developed by The National Volunteer Fire Council and Firefighter Wife.
- Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) provides resources, support, and programs for law enforcement families impacted by line-of-duty death.
- National Fallen Firefighters Foundation provides resources, support, and programs for family members of fallen firefighters.
- How2LoveOurCops offers resources for law enforcement families.
- Police Wives of America offers a listing of police wives’ groups by state as well as information to help start a new group, blog posts, and other helpful resources for law enforcement families.
- FirefighterWife.com provides information and resources to honor, strengthen, support, and encourage fire service marriages and families.
- The IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery has hosted several webinars for fire service families including Help Starts at Home: Fire Service Families and Behavioral Health and Fire Family Dynamics: Promoting Healthy Home Lives.
- Code4Couples offers advice and resources for law enforcement spouses including a downloadable skills guide and podcast series.
- Bulletproof links you to confidential and anonymous mental health and wellness resources for law enforcement professionals and their families.
For helpful advice related to marriage, parenting, communication, or supporting your first responder’s physical and mental health, check out these resources:
- The Partner at Home: Maintaining a Strong First Responder Marriage, Relationship
- Signs Your First Responder Needs Help and How to Get It
- When Work Comes Home: Help for Responders and Their Family
- Tough Talk: How to Talk to Kids About Close Calls
- Tough Talk: How to Talk to Kids About Tragedy and Line-of-Duty-Death
- Officer Family Wellness Podcast Series