Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) is pleased to announce that it has received a $200K grant from the Hearst Foundations to help fund the NAH Mental Health Matters for First Responders program, supporting NAH’s Guardian Air Transport and Guardian Medical Transport first responders in receiving critical mental health support. This grant was awarded to NAH due to the diligent efforts of NAH’s Office of Philanthropy and its relationship with the Hearst Foundations.
The Mental Health Matters for First Responders program provides confidential trauma-informed counseling, crisis debriefing and other resources to help these community heroes process the trauma they experience daily on the job and maintain their own mental wellness. These resources are delivered in ways that accommodate first responders’ schedules, respect their privacy and build trust within their professional community.
The grant to support first responder counseling came as a result of NAH’s commitment to supporting mental health community-wide. Those efforts took a significant step forward during Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Throughout the month, the NAH Office of Philanthropy partnered with local organizations and businesses, including Title Sponsor Health First Foundation, to host a series of mental health-themed events to raise awareness of the importance of mental wellness. Over 1,000 community members attended 35 Mental Health Matters events that connected people who wanted to learn more about the cause and show their support. In addition to these awareness events, there were a variety of fundraising events which raised $65,000 to support the NAH Mental Health Matters for First Responders program.
“The incredible response from our community during Mental Health Awareness Month demonstrates a shared commitment to those who dedicate their lives to protecting ours. This grant from the Hearst Foundations is yet another show of support for some of our most selfless neighbors who support us when we call for help,” said NAH Vice President of Philanthropy Maraka Oltrogge. “The entire month was a huge success, thanks to the generosity from the community. We are deeply grateful to everyone who engaged, volunteered and donated, including NAH’s Behavioral Health department, the Flagstaff Fire Department, Flagstaff Police Department and the Redemption Counseling Center, who joined us as panel participants at our public forum about first responder mental health.”
The Mental Health Matters for First Responders program was initiated in 2023 by an NAH first responder who observed that cumulative stress and repeated exposure to trauma were affecting both personal well-being and professional performance. NAH’s first responder teams serve more than 79,000 square miles across five states, responding to emergencies in some of the Southwest’s most rural and remote areas. Guardian Air Transport includes 72 flight medics and nurses based in Flagstaff, Cottonwood, Tuba City, Winslow and Show Low, providing rapid air response for high-acuity and remote emergencies. Guardian Medical Transport employs approximately 100 full-time paramedics and emergency medical technicians, operating a fleet of 20 ambulances from three stations in Flagstaff and one in Tusayan, near the Grand Canyon. Together, these first responders complete an average of 25,000 ground and air responses annually, serving both permanent residents and millions of annual visitors to northern Arizona. These professionals face extraordinary levels of stress and trauma, leaving them at higher risk for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and suicide.
“First responders are trained to be strong for everyone else, but strength also means recognizing when you need support,” said Guardian Medical Transport Battalion Chief Matt Shaw. “NAH’s Mental Health Matters for First Responders program has helped break down the stigma that once kept many first responders silent. By opening the conversation and making mental health support part of the culture, it helps our first responders be there for themselves and their families, just as they are for everyone else.”
“We are proud to join NAH in funding the Mental Health Matters for First Responders program,” said Paul “Dino” Dinovitz, Executive Director of the Hearst Foundations. “The brave men and women of the Guardian Air Transport and Guardian Medical Transport teams are an inspiration for all to take mental health seriously.”
NAH will be continuing the Mental Health Matters campaign next May, with a goal to grow the effort and reach more of our communities. If a business or organization is interested in participating, please contact Maraka Oltrogge by calling 928-773-2275 or emailing [email protected].