SLC 911 launching new mental health tool to offer support for first responders
SALT LAKE CITY () — Salt Lake City is launching a new mental health tool for the first responders behind 911 calls as part of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
From April 13 to 19, officials will be highlighting and sharing the stories of first responders on Salt Lake City social media accounts. To ensure that first responders are being supported, SLC 911 will also be launching , a platform dedicated to providing wellness resources.
Mindbase will provide mental health tools dedicated to addressing burnout and trauma in real-time. It will feature anonymous check-ins and insight for leadership to track and support team well-being.
'Our dispatchers are the calm in the storm for so many in our community,' said Lisa Kehoe, Director of SLC 911. 'Every call they answer is an opportunity to help someone in need, and they take that responsibility to heart. I'm incredibly proud of the compassion, professionalism, and pride our team brings to this vital work every single day. They are the unseen lifeline behind every emergency response, and their commitment to serving this community is nothing short of heroic.'
The Salt Lake City 911 Bureau serves both Salt Lake City and Sandy. According to a press release, it includes 61 dispatchers, eight supervisors, and six administrators. The release states that last year the bureau answered 653,018 calls and assisted in delivering four babies.
Also in 2024, SLC 911 earned the recognition of the Utah Association of Public Safety Communications Officials in handling the Sandhurst Fire. Kehoe was also awarded the 2024 Director of the Year Award by the National Emergency Number Association Utah Chapter.
'Every emergency response in our city starts with a voice on the other end of the line—and that voice makes all the difference,' said Mayor Erin Mendenhall. 'Our dispatchers are calm in chaos, steady in crisis, and deeply committed to the people they serve. Salt Lake City is safer because of their work, and I'm profoundly grateful for the personal care they bring to every call.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Yahoo
Lawrence County deputies issue 54 tickets during Click It or Ticket campaign
LAWRENCE COUNTY, Mo. — A local sheriff's office is releasing its 2025 Click It or Ticket campaign results from across the county. The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office took part in Missouri's 2025 Click It or Ticket campaign from May 10 to June 1. Deputies issued 54 citations and warnings, including three seat belt violations, 26 for speeding, two DWIs, and 23 other traffic offenses. One felony arrest was also made. Lawrence County deputies issue 54 tickets during Click It or Ticket campaign Hearing on wastewater permits for animal feeding operations Governor Kehoe requests federal disaster aid for six Missouri counties Woman killed in SW Missouri crash was pregnant with twins, police say Head-on collision in Marionville claims life, injures two Sheriff Brad DeLay reminded drivers that seat belts are the best defense in a crash and urged everyone to 'Buckle Up and Arrive Alive.' Missouri's current seat belt use rate is 88.3 percent, below the national average of 91.2 percent. Teens and pickup truck drivers remain the least likely to buckle up at 74.0 percent and 75.3 percent, respectively. More info is available at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Missouri State Capitol lights up green for Mental Health Awareness Month
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has ordered the Missouri State Capitol dome to shine green in recognition of May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Children's Mental Health Week also runs from May 4 to May 10. 'Approximately one in six children and youth have a diagnosable mental illness, and around 50 percent of individuals with lifetime mental health challenges first experience symptoms by age 14,' the governor's office said in a news release. The dome will be lit up green from Wednesday, May 7, until Thursday, May 8. Missouri's oldest resident, Mary Chesney, dies at 112 years old 'It's important to talk about mental health and the resources that are available for Missourians who need help and support,' Kehoe said. 'You are not alone if you struggle with mental health challenges.' Gov. Kehoe is proclaiming May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Missouri, and May 4 through May 10 as Children's Mental Health Week. 'May is a great time to shine a light on the importance of mental health,' said Valerie Huhn, Missouri Department of Mental Health Director. 'We're proud to see the Capitol dome lighted green this year for mental health awareness as we continue to share resources and support for Missourians.' If you are having suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, call or text 988. Veterans can press '1' after dialing 988 to connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. For texts, veterans should continue to text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Kansas City residents can find local mental health resources here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Yahoo
Brownwood honors 911 dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
ABILENE, Texas () – National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 14-18, honors dispatchers who assess a situation and dispatch emergency services and law enforcement. When the phone rings, someone is prepared to answer and assess calls for help. Brownwood 911 Dispatcher and shift supervisor Justin Storch stated that the job requires various skills. 'We're gathering information, ensuring public safety, officer safety, and then protection of property,' Storch said. 'As soon as we get a call, we have to decide what kind of call it is, and in seconds, get it on the board and get it out to an officer so they can respond as quick as possible.' Dispatchers navigate chaos, occasionally having to deliver babies and provide CPR over the phone. Abilene Communications Manager, Lindsey Hoxsey, mentioned that this can be challenging. 'The harder ones are going to be CPR and stuff that deals with infants that don't come out great. You know, whenever somebody wakes up next to somebody that's passed away overnight, that they've been with for 60 years, those are pretty rough for us,' Hoxsey said. As the job gains more public attention, Storch stated that discussing its mental health impact is increasingly important. 'We get them to the EMTs and firefighters to them and after that, we don't hear anything else. It can become emotionally difficult. It can weigh on a dispatcher quite a bit. One of the best things that we can do is have a good, strong support system, which we do from our officers, from our fellow dispatchers, and our families,' Storch explained. Brownwood Lieutenant Art Sanders said it would be unimaginable in a world without dispatchers. 'It would be chaos. We wouldn't know where we're going. We wouldn't have— it would be up to us to find things going on all the time. And we just can't do that. You know, there's only a limited number of officers out there prowling around the streets,' said Sanders. 'They are the guys that are absolutely there all the time,' Sanders said. Hoxsey said no matter the county, the overall vision is the same: to save lives and get people the help they need. 'Your worst day is our work day, and we want everybody to feel heard. And when they call, we want to make sure everybody feels like a priority. So we are here,' Hoxsey said. In 2019, the state of Texas recognized dispatchers as first responders, allowing 911 operators to access the same benefits as law enforcement and emergency services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
