The Code Green Campaign®
The Code Green Campaign® is a first responder-oriented mental health advocacy and education organization. Also known as Code Green, we serve all types of first responders. This includes firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers, police, corrections, air medical, and search & rescue. Our name is a combination of the color for mental health awareness (green) and the “code alerts” used in emergency services. If someone is having a stroke or heart attack first responders will call a “code stroke” or “code STEMI”. The idea is that Code Green is calling a code alert on the mental health of first responders.
Our Mission
Bring awareness to the high rates of mental health issues in first responders and reduce them. Eliminate the stigma that prevents people from admitting these issues and asking for help. Educate first responders on self-care and peer care and advocate for systemic change in how mental health issues are addressed by first responder agencies.
Our Goals
Our main goals as an organization are to improve mental wellness for first responders also to reduce barriers to accessing mental health care. We have multiple smaller goals that we focus on as part of fulfilling our larger organizational goals. Some of our more focused goals inclde:
- Reducing the stigma around talking about mental health issues.
- Providing education about the signs and symptoms of the mental health issues that first responders experience.
- Increasing access to culturally competent mental health resources.
- Reducing financial barriers to care.
- Reducing unnecessary organizational and operational stressors.
- Suicide prevention and postvention.
Our History
Our Accomplishments:
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Educated tens of thousands of first responders about mental health, resilience, and what mental health resources are available.
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We have a semi-regular column on EMS1, the largest EMS-related news website.
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Increased reporting of public safety suicides by 100%, leading to a better understanding of the core issue
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Created a first-of-its-kind database of first responder-oriented mental health resources.
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Provide peer support and crisis referral for hundreds of providers.
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Provide financial assistance to first responders who need help paying for mental health care.
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Presented mental health education at numerous conferences, education events, and agencies.