First Responders Don’t Need More Mental Health Awareness—They Need Effective Blueprints and Tools for Healing

Awareness Won’t Save Us: What First Responders Actually Need to Heal From Trauma

Let’s just say it:
We’ve broken the stigma into a million awareness ribbons.
And somehow, we’re still bleeding out.

We don’t need another campaign.
We don’t need more t-shirts.
We need a roadmap.

In Episode 116 of After the Tones Drop, I sat down with retired firefighter/paramedic Matty Fiorenza, a man who’s lived through addiction, trauma, loss, and the long-ass road back. And together, we called bullshit on what’s being sold as “support” for first responders.

Let’s go there.

You Can’t Heal in a System That’s Profiting Off Your Pain

Here’s what we’re not doing right:

• We aren’t training therapists who understand first responder culture.
  
  
• We aren’t funding peer teams that actually stick around after the funeral.
  
  
• We aren’t vetting treatment programs. We’re selling them like supplements.
  
  
• We’ve made “getting help” a soundbite, not a system.
  
  

Matty and I didn’t gloss it over.
We talked Stella Shot (SGB). EMDR. Neurofeedback. Accelerated Release Therapy. Sobriety programs. Meditation. God. Grounding. And yeah, sometimes the stuff that doesn’t work too.

But healing isn’t about the menu.
It’s about integration.

You don’t need a dozen shiny tools.

You need a structure to hold the weight of your recovery when you can’t hold it yourself.

Stop Selling Awareness. Start Building Infrastructure.

You want to “normalize the conversation”?
Great. Then start by answering the call when your crew actually asks for help.

Because here’s what happens:
We tell firefighters, medics, dispatchers, and cops to reach out.
But when they finally do, there’s nothing on the other end but a laminated EAP flyer and a therapist who doesn’t know what bunker gear smells like after a fatal.

We’ve got to do better.
Matty knows it. I know it. And deep down, so do you.

This Is the Map You’re Looking For

Here’s the part that matters:

Matty isn’t done healing.
Neither am I.
Neither are you.

And that’s the whole point. Healing isn’t a finish line—it’s a way of living. And if your department, your leadership, or your ego told you that struggle means you’re weak? Toss that garbage in the burn pile.

You’re not behind.
You’re just overdue for a new plan.

Here’s Your Next Step

🎧 Start with this episode. It’s not just Matty’s story. It’s a playbook for how to stop bleeding and start building:
👉 https://www.afterthetonesdrop.co/matty-fiorenza

📬 And if you’re ready for real support, not performative awareness?
Email me. Cinnamon@whole-house.com

This work takes guts.
You’ve got them.
Let’s build something that holds.

Contact us: https://whole-house.com/contact

Contact Information for Matty Fiorenza

FRPR Website:  https://frprfoundation.com

Email Matty: matthew.fiorenza@yahoo.com