A 30-Year Law Enforcement Veteran on Suicide, Survival, and Speaking Up
September is Suicide Prevention Month. We have lost members of the law enforcement community in Michigan recently, and across the country, first responders continue to die by suicide. We need to talk about it. Not as administrators or statisticians. Not with another training slide or poster on the wall. We need to talk about it […]
Excuses Veterans and First Responders Use to Avoid Treatment, Debunked
At JOHN (Just One Hero Needed), we are used to getting the excuses Veterans and first responders give to avoid treatment. As an exclusive treatment center for Veterans and first responders, we receive calls after incidents occur and when individuals feel suicidal or fear the loss of their careers or relationships. Interestingly, we may talk […]
30 Years Behind the Badge, Now Helping Veterans and First Responders Heal
Thirty years separate these two pictures. One represents the career that shaped me; the other represents the mission that followed. I spent nearly 30 years in law enforcement. During that time, I had the privilege of serving alongside some incredible individuals. I also saw firsthand the toll this profession and military service can take on […]
What “Safe Spaces” Means in Mental Health Treatment for Veterans & First Responders
The phrase “safe spaces” seems overused and perhaps even triggering in mental health treatment for Veterans and first responders. After all, if you are dealing with trauma, depression, or other mental health diagnoses, there are no safe spaces. As someone in recovery and a Resident Support Specialist at J.O.H.N. (Just One Hero Needed), I’d like […]
Introducing Hero: A New Therapy Dog at JOHN Veterans and First Responders Program
When Matt VanLiere became Executive Director of the JOHN Veterans and First Responders program at Sanford Behavioral Health, he knew there was one thing missing. As a former police officer and person in recovery, Matt understands the unique needs of those who have served. He has seen what the specialized programming at JOHN can do […]
