First Responders Mental Health Front and Center; a Message from EMS Division Chief Mike Worthen

Mike currently serves as an EMS Division Chief at the Nevada National Security Site Fire Department and has been a first responder for the past 30 years. Over that time Mike has struggled seeing to many of his brothers and sisters’ complete suicide. Mike was diagnosed with dysthymia, also known as Persistent Depressive Disorder and like some of you, manages this disorder daily. Mike is also in recovery from alcohol and substance abuse and recently celebrated 17 years clean on 1/9/2023. Mike has now turned his personal battles into a message of hope by sharing his story and promoting mental fitness and self-care amongst first responders. Mike has become a big proponent in suicide prevention and believes that we must crush the stigma that is sometimes associated with mental health so more people can come forward and ask for the help they may need. Mike Worthen can be reached at [email protected].

For Suicide Prevention Please call the hotline# 988