Help Is Out There—But Where? Navigating First Responder Wellness Resources

This episode discusses post-traumatic stress, trauma, an officer-involved shooting, and alcohol misuse. If these topics are personally difficult, please listen at your own pace. If you recognize yourself in this conversation, asking for help is a sign of courage, not weakness — and you are not alone.

Welcome back to Just Breathe, where we explore the intersection of leadership and the science of self-regulation in public safety. Most first responders know help is out there; far fewer know how to reach it, or whether the person on the other end understands the job. This episode is about closing that gap: where to turn once you decide you need help, and why the answer starts with leadership.

Dr. Tracie L. Keesee is joined by Conrad Weaver, President and CEO of First Responder Wellness Solutions, founder of ConjoStudios, and creator of the documentaries PTSD911 and Heroin's Grip. Together they talk through what keeps helpers from asking for help, how to find a therapist who actually knows the culture, and what separates leaders who walk the walk from those who only talk about wellness.

WHAT WE COVER

• Why first responders, the people everyone calls for help, are often the last to ask for it — and why admitting "this is beyond me" is the first step.
• How confidential lines like CopLine and Safe Call Now give responders a judgment-free place to start the conversation.
• How to vet a therapist: shop around, ask directly whether they work with cops or firefighters, and ask whether they've ever been on a ride-along.
• Why a leader's words matter — one detective agreed to get help because his chief offered "a program," not "a shrink."
• Why self-leadership comes first, through the story of a police chief who got help for her officers after a mass shooting before realizing she needed it too.
• Why a chief who skips the department's own wellness day sends a louder message than any LinkedIn post.
• How agreeing with a spouse or partner on what you will and won't share about work protects both the responder and the relationship.
• Why, after screenings in 32 states and roughly 90 cities, Conrad says the biggest gap in first responder wellness is leadership that understands and cares.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or considering suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

• CopLine — 1-800-COPLINE (1-800-267-5463) — Confidential 24/7 hotline for active and retired law enforcement and their families, answered by retired officers.
• Safe Call Now — 1-206-459-3020 — Confidential 24-hour crisis referral line for public safety employees, emergency services personnel, and their families.
• National Fraternal Order of Police Approved Provider Bulletin — A nationwide directory of FOP-vetted, culturally competent wellness providers for law enforcement and their families: https://fop.net/officer-wellness/approved-provider-bulletin-apb
• First Responder Wellness Solutions — Conrad's organization and resource list: https://firstresponderwellness.co
• Your agency's peer support team, Employee Assistance Program, chaplain, or a mental health professional who works with first responders.

ABOUT CONRAD WEAVER

Conrad Weaver is a filmmaker, entrepreneur, speaker, and coach dedicated to strengthening leadership and wellness within public safety. As President and CEO of First Responder Wellness Solutions and founder of ConjoStudios, he brings more than two decades of storytelling experience to helping agencies build healthier, more resilient cultures. He created the documentaries PTSD911 and Heroin's Grip and hosts the First Responder Wellness Podcast.

ABOUT THE JUST BREATHE PODCAST

Just Breathe with Dr. Tracie L. Keesee is a leadership platform for first responders and public safety professionals. Each episode explores how leadership, judgment, accountability, and wellness are shaped by the internal state of the leader making the decision — on the street, in the command staff meeting, and at home. New episodes drop every other week.

Control the breath. Control the moment.

If you are a first responder or public safety professional struggling right now: call or text 988, or call CopLine at 1-800-267-5463 — both are confidential and staffed by people who understand this work.