Mason Fights to Strengthen Mental Health Care for First Responders

GURNEE, Ill. – Police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel would have greater access to behavioral health care under legislation backed by state Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee that would guarantee mental health care as a right of all first responders.

“We know that going through a traumatic event can cause a person to experience long-term negative health effects,” Mason said. “For first responders who face traumatic situations on a regular basis, it is vitally important that they are able to access quality mental health care whenever they need it.”

Mason is supporting House Bill 3977, legislation that would create the First Responders Behavioral Healthcare Bill of Rights Act. The measure would make sure that all emergency medical personnel, firefighters and law enforcement officers are given access to mental health care. The bill also requires that all information shared by first responders as part of their behavioral health care be kept private and prohibits their employers from retaliating against them for using mental health care services. House Bill 3977 recently passed out of the House Police and Fire Committee with unanimous support and now goes to the House floor for further consideration.

“First responders deserve our utmost support for the sacrifices they make on our behalf every day,” Mason said. “I urge my colleagues to join me in standing up for the health of our first responders by helping to pass this bill out of the House.”