Killingly, CT — Killingly First Responders packed the Town Hall’s first-floor conference room during the Fiscal Subcommittee meeting Thursday evening in support of the Quiet Corner Peer Support Groups’ request for funding.
Dr. Keven McNeill, President and founder of the organization, explained that “the Quiet Corner Peer Support Group (QCPS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting the mental health of our community’s first responders — firefighters, EMS personnel, military veterans, and police.” The QCPS currently serves all six Killingly Fire Departments and responds to surrounding towns, when requested, with a volunteer team of first responders, military veterans, licensed therapists, chaplains, community members, and a therapy K9 (in training) at no charge.
The mental health crisis is very real to responders and veterans in the Quiet Corner, especially in Killingly. In support of the request for funding, Chief Greg Desmarais, Attawaugan Fire Department, shared his account of two horrific motor vehicle accidents in Killingly that affected his mental health for years before they were identified, and he jumped through numerous hoops to get assistance. Similarly, veteran Joel Niemann described his experience in the invasion of Iraq, which has stuck with him for years, and the struggles he went through when seeking assistance from the VA. In both accounts, help was not readily available when it was needed. QCPS is working to ensure the first line of assistance, in the form of Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol (ASAP) deployments, and a therapy K9 is available within hours of need, dispatched similar to a fire department unit, they respond 24/7. Following their initial response (or independent of a “call out”), individuals needing assistance have access to peer support groups, training and education focusing on mental health and PTSD, and professional care.
Dr. McNeil detailed a scenario of calling 911 and no responders showing up to help. This is a scenario that is repeatedly occurring across the country as volunteerism dwindles, with a leading cause being mental health and PTSD developed through traumatic incidents. In order to get ahead of this trend, it is imperative for there to be resources for responders to ensure they remain fit, not only to respond to incidents, but to respond with a sound mind.
Since their inception in December, QCPS has been requested 14 times. The organization currently relies on local donations and personal funds, which do not allow for adequate coverage of the area. They are requesting $125,000 from the Opiod Settlement fund to cover their anticipated annual operating costs, which include $10,000 for ASAP Certifications & Deployments, $75,000 for facility costs, and $40,000 for a Program Coordinator. First Responders suffering from PTSD and similar mental health crises are at an enhanced risk for substance abuse. Ensuring the success of QCPS provides a means of support before, during, and after responders and veterans reach the point of substance abuse problems.
QCPS is in the process of moving into a donated space on the Evergreen Farms property for use as office and meeting space. This property will root the organization’s base in Killingly.
The committee voted to table the discussions to a later date pending follow-up information on specific substance abuse statistics in the served population.
[…] The wellness center was partially funded by the Town of Killingly using money from the state’s opioid settlement fund. Read our initial story on the request for funding here. […]