MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Frontline Strong Together (FST5), an online resource for mental health in first responders, opened its first in-person wellness center in the Upper Peninsula Monday afternoon. The program offers around-the-clock confidential peer counseling across all 83 counties in Michigan. With the opening of the Upper Peninsula Wellness Center, these services will be available in person for the first time in the state.
As the stigma of mental health is often seen as a weakness in this field, bottling emotion can cause further damage. Jacki Lasich is the trauma specialist at the new Marquette location.
“If we can really not keep a lid on those emotions, and have a safe place to put it out there to have it reframed, to normalize it and validate them, we truly are going to make a difference with all of our first responders,” she said.
FST5 was formed in 2021. The ‘5’ represents each branch it supports, across police, corrections, fire, EMS, and dispatch, as well as their immediate families.
As some units face limited patrol in the Upper Peninsula, long hours are often spent alone. With common issues surrounding alcohol, gambling, and divorce, these services look to offer peer support among fellow first responders.
“With a small department, we only have one guy on each shift,” said Detective Sergeant Nicholas Carter with the Chocolay Township Police Department. “You’re handling calls by yourself, then you’re having to deal with those tough situations alone. This really puts it out there that ‘hey, you aren’t by yourself anymore.'”
The wellness center will offer a space to decompress, speak with a therapist, as well as attend weekly anonymous meetings on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. These opportunities will be available to any responders at no cost.
The Upper Peninsula Wellness Center can be found in Suite 500 of Marquette’s old City Hall building (220 W. Washington Street,) and is open to first responders from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
First responders struggling under any circumstances can call 1-833-347-8766 for access to 24/7 peer support.
