Roane County Partners with HopeNation for Daily Mental Health Check-Ins
Roane County, Tenn. — Roane County has partnered with Tennessee-based HopeNation to provide first responders with confidential, daily mental health check-ins sent directly to their phones.
Through the program, first responders receive a daily text message asking about their occupational stress and how they are processing calls. Licensed clinicians monitor the responses in real time, and if trends suggest someone is struggling, a clinician reaches out directly to offer a confidential virtual session or an in-person debrief during downtime on shift.
EMS Director April Miller said the benefits of the program will reach far beyond the first responders themselves. “As they take care of themselves, they’ll be able to take care of their patients better,” Miller said, adding that the impact extends to employees’ families and the broader community as well.
Miller said the EMS field has long discouraged workers from speaking openly about mental health struggles, making the new program a cultural shift for many crew members. The program is designed to remove the burden of asking for help — clinicians reach out proactively rather than waiting for an employee to seek support on their own.
Roane County funded the initiative using opioid abatement dollars, making the program free for all first responders regardless of insurance status. All Roane County first responders and department heads are currently enrolled.
According to HopeNation, research shows 80% of first responders will experience a traumatic event during their careers, and 30% to 50% will experience suicidal ideation. County leaders plan to expand the check-in program to all county employees over the next year if it continues to be successful.
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