WHEELING — Every day, the public relies on police, fire, military and other first responders to come to their aid in times of crisis and tragedy.

While it’s all part of the job, over time these traumatic events can have a detrimental effect on first reponders’ mental well-being. There is help, however. Armor Up WV is a non-profit, donation-based organization that started in 2018 to train and educate first responders in West Virginia to recognize, treat and prevent post-traumatic stress disorder within their own ranks.

In the local area, Armor Up WV has teamed up with Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration to promote Safe Call Now, a confidential, comprehensive 24-hour crisis referral service for all public safety workers, military and corrections personnel and their families.

Armor Up WV event/fundraising coordinator Suzi Flick-Waugh met with Ohio County safety forces at Wheeling fire headquarters Friday morning to distribute bright purple, rubber bracelets which bear the words “Armor Up WV Suicide Prevention Safe Call Now,” along with the phone number for the help hotline — 206-459-3020. Panhandle sponsors the bracelets and asks the first responders to wear them to honor all of those in their professions who have been lost to suicide.

Josh Contraguerro, vice president of marketing for Panhandle, said when approached about sponsoring the program, the company was pleased to be able to help.

“When the opportunity came to us, it was a no brainer. We work hand in hand with first responders and we want to help get the word out that there is help,” Contraguerro said.

September is Suicide Prevention month. According to Shadows Behind the Badge.org, so far this year, there have been 130 law enforcement/corrections suicides; 82 fire/EMS suicides; and 4,971 active military/veteran suicides nationwide.

Flick-Waugh said Armor Up WV is an advocate for ending the stigma that surrounds mental illness and public safety. Armor Up WV also celebrates the lives and contributions of first responders lost to suicide. Additional bracelets were distributed among various Marshall County departments on Friday.

Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger and Fire Chief Larry Helms both agree that there is still some stigma attached to seeking help with mental health issues among first responders. Schwertfeger said that’s one of the reasons his department conducts mandatory stress debriefings after particularly harrowing events. In recent years, the opioid epidemic has had an impact on police officers and EMS who are on the front line daily, seeing how it affects the victims and their families, the chiefs agreed.

“The well-being of our employees is first. They see more than their share …” Schwertfeger said.

Helms said his department also encourages firefighters and paramedics to talk about the stresses of the job.

“We encourage them to bring it to front. There is still a stigma but not like it used to be,” Helms said.

Flick-Waugh said mental health is just as important as physical wellness.

Armor Up WV will also be kicking off a fundraising drive for the month of September, with the goal being $9,000 for suicide awareness month, Flick-Waugh said.

There are also several fundraising events coming up, including a quarter auction on Oct. 26 at Triadelphia Town Hall. More information can be obtained by visiting the Facebook page www.facebook.com/ARMORUP.WV.

The organization also will sponsor the Officer Aaron Acree Memorial Blood Drive on Oct. 3 in Summersville. The blood drive honors a beloved police lieutenant lost to suicide in 2018. The drive hopes to collect 102 useable blood donations. Acrees’ unit number was 102 with the Summersville Police Department.