"Officer Ashley Wilson, to the left of Gov. Brian Kemp, during the memorial that honored her fallen colleague"
Gwinnett County Police Sgt. Ashley Wilson
"[The new law] is going to save lives, and it's going to change the culture of how we in the first responder community discuss Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and how we in the community as a whole look at mental health care," said Gwinnett County Police Sgt. Ashley Wilson.
"The whole idea behind the bill was to prevent and give resources to prevent firefighter and police suicides," she said. "If you are using that $3,000 to go to treatment with a counselor and doing the work, you're going to have enough skills and tools in your toolbox to use if and when you experience another critical incident."
Through her leadership and determination, Sgt. Wilson championed the critical need first responders have for mental health support so they do not have to choose between seeking help and providing for their families. Her vision and initiative sparked a needed shift in mental health for first responders, setting a new standard of care and compassion.
"Photo courtesy of Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police"
Why is this coverage needed?
Ashley Wilson
Gwinnett County Police Sgt.“PTSD is treatable, and this law provides critical support to help first responders get and complete treatment. Thanks to treatment, I am a better police officer, wife, and friend than I was before I got PTSD,” said Gwinnett County Police Sgt. Ashley Wilson.
Devan Seabaugh
Georgia State RepresentativeAs a former first responder himself, state Rep. Devan Seabaugh said, "We work in a business that never closes. The job requires us to run towards the danger when others are running away. It is a high-stress job that requires mental and physical toughness. I've personally seen traumatic events that no human should ever see.”
As the primary sponsor of HB 451, Rep. Seabaugh said the law now fosters a culture in which seeking assistance is viewed as a strength, not as a weakness.
"I think [the bill] will go a long way to keep our public safety work force mentally stable and healthy and able to continue working in the profession they truly love".
Gregg Kennard
State RepresentativeAlso a sponsor of the bipartisan measure, State Rep. Gregg Kennard said, “It’s a pretty wide array of people who are putting their lives on the line literally every day for the benefit of the community. [This bill] is going to make them more effective in their ability to perform their duties.”
"When we call our first responders in times of need, they show up, usually within minutes," said Rep. Kennard. "Today, we have the opportunity to show up for them in their time of need."
A.A. "Butch" Ayers
Executive DirectorGeorgia Association of Chiefs of Police
“We need to provide our first responders with the support they need when faced with PTSD as a result of protecting and serving our communities. The PTSD Program provides support by allowing first responders to access funds to cover doctor office visits, co-pays, and treatment without having to deplete personal funds. I want to commend all of the stakeholders who worked together for two years to bring this issue across the finish line.”
David E. Eddins
Fire ChiefWaycross Fire Department
“PTSD is nothing new to public safety. We are finally saying it out loud. For far too long it has been an unwritten rule not to show what some perceived as weakness. Dealing with the things that all public safety agencies have to deal with can and will take a toll. The freedom we have to deal with PTSD determines the outcome. Unfortunately, the negative stigma associated with PTSD keeps many from seeking help. PTSD is not a four-letter cuss word. It is an injury better stated as trauma to the brain. PTSD is not choosy in who it affects. The number of runs made nor size of the department has any bearing. PTSD can onset from one incident or an accumulation of several incidents. PTSD can lay in wait for years and resurface when we least expect it. It was once said that people in public safety learn to pack the bad incidents away in boxes and put them in a closet hoping the lids never come off.
We have to make sure our public safety family knows that it is ok to say I'm not ok. Let's encourage our brothers and sisters to Come in From the Rain.”
Gary J. Clark
Retired Captain/ParamedicGeorgia State Firefighter Association President
“PTSD has devastated every aspect of public safety. We hear about it most in our military, but here on our home front, it has taken a toll on our men and women serving every day in some capacity of public safety whether it be a 911 dispatcher or a firefighter, first responder, or our brothers and sisters in law enforcement. It is not a matter if we will be affected, but when.
The human mind can only absorb so much devastation before it begins to affect job performance and critical thinking required in our respective job fields. So many times, we hear or read about another case where one of our public safety family members have committed suicide to escape the mind prison they are in. This PTSD benefit will assist individuals in getting treatment of symptoms before it results in tragedy and another one of our public safety family members are lost due to suicide. This benefit is a beginning to help assist in the treatment of PTSD. ”
Contact us
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ACCG: 191 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-522-5022 -
GMA: 201 Pryor St, SW Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 678-686-6221 -
Email us for Inquiry: gfrptsd@lockton.com
