Now Introducing: The MnFIRE PeerConnect App

Firefighting is a strenuous job – physically, mentally and emotionally. Call after call, year after year, the stress can add up and lead to detrimental effects, especially for a firefighter’s mental health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 13% of firefighters screened positive for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 53% screened positive for both anxiety and depression separately.

With the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE), help is out there. In fact, it’s at your fingertips with the MnFIRE PeerConnect app. In May, the MnFIRE PeerConnect app launched as yet another free health and wellness resource for Minnesota firefighters and their families. It was developed in partnership with First Response Mental Health, an organization that specializes in the stressors that first responders are exposed to, and the support systems in place to protect and support them.

The app, now available to download from both the Apple App Store and Google Play by searching “MnFIRE PeerConnect”, provides users the ability to easily request confidential Peer Support in two easy ways: immediately dial in or request a call back.

Unique to this platform is the opportunity to preview peer supporter profiles and personally select the person you’d like to talk to directly. While all of MnFIRE’s trained peer supporters are ready to lend a listening ear or offer support, this selection can make all the difference in the comfort level of a firefighter asking for help.

In addition, the app serves up a unique feed of firefighter health and wellness information. When you download the app, you immediately gain access to a library of articles and resources focused on improving firefighter health and wellness, all curated and created by MnFIRE’s knowledgeable experts.

The MnFIRE PeerConnect app is another step towards reducing the stigma of asking for help in the fire service. Talking about the challenges we face is not something to be ashamed of, but rather a proactive measure to better health. If you or a firefighter you know is working through a tough time at work or at home and needs someone to talk to who gets it, tell them “there’s an app for that.”

You can also contact MnFIRE’s Peer Support service directly via phone at 1-888-784-6634. Calls to the Peer Support hotline are answered live, 24/7, through PRO Network’s HIPAA-compliant answering service, and their experienced roster of masters-level mental health professionals will work to connect individuals with peer supporters and get them the help they need. No matter if you call or use the app, connecting with the MnFIRE Peer Support team can make all the difference on the path to better mental health and well-being.

To learn more, visit the PeerConnect App page.

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We can’t believe it is that time of year, but this weekend will be our closing weekend. We have had a great summer at Tommy’s Tonka Trolley, and enjoyed beautiful weather. This Saturday, as we do every year, we will be providing free ice cream along with our good friends at Sebastian Joe’s and donating the profits to a charity. This year we have chosen to donate our money to the Minnesota Fire Initiative. The vast majority of firefighters in Minnesota are volunteer. They have significantly higher risk for mental health, illness, Cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Minnesota Fire Initiative helps firefighters and their families. We are happy and excited to welcome the Excelsior Fire Department and their truck to come down and make the day festive. We are very hopeful to raise some good funds for Minnesota Fire Initiative. The law firm of Schmidt and Salita will also be matching your donations. So come down and enjoy some great Sebastian Joe’s ice cream while it lasts and all of our other treats. We just asked that you make a worthy donation to this wonderful organization . We are open at 11 AM. We expect, weather, permitting, to be open until 5 PM (or until we run out) The Excelsior Fire truck will be down near the trolley for all to come see. The weather is supposed to be beautiful and we are excited. Please come down and join us. Again we want to thank Sebastian Joe’s for helping us donate. @tommystonkatrolley @mnfireinitiative @sebastianjoes @schmidtsalitalawteam ... See MoreSee Less

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our table at the Minnesota State Fire Department Association Annual Conference last week! We enjoyed chatting about how we can continue to help firefighters across the state get the physical and mental health resources they need. ... See MoreSee Less

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our table at the Minnesota State Fire Department Association Annual Conference last week! We enjoyed chatting about how we can continue to help firefighters across the state get the physical and mental health resources they need.
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